“You must not, under any pretext, allow your mind to linger on any thought that is not positive, constructive, optimistic, kind.” Emmet fox

Emmet Fox is considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century on spirituality. It is estimated that his books and brochures have been distributed to more than 10 million people. He published an article-program in 1963 called “The Seven Day Mental Diet.” This small copy, which is still valid today, shows a practical and clear method to transform your life.

Have you been on a diet to lose weight? Have you made an emotional and mental diet to improve your life? Sometimes we can dedicate all the effort to our body, but our mind, attitudes and dispositions are negative and toxic. We are a whole, our integral part is made up of the body, mind, spirit and emotions.

Why is it so necessary to learn to control our thoughts? Because these govern our emotions, and generate all kinds of actions.

Fox states that “The most important factor in life is the mental diet from which you live. It is the food that is provided to the mind that completely determines the character of life. The thoughts that you allow yourself, the matters that you distract your mind, are what will make you and your surroundings what they are. As your thoughts are, so will your life be.

Everything that exists in your life today: the state of your body, healthy or sick; the state of your finances, whether prosperous or impoverished; the state of your home, whether you are happy or otherwise; in fact, the current conditions of each phase of your life are totally conditioned by the thoughts and feelings that you had in the past, as well as by the habitual tone of your past thoughts. Likewise, the conditions of your life tomorrow and next week and next year will be fully conditioned by the thoughts and feelings that you decide to harbor from now on. “

The program proposed by Fox is intended to lead you to personal commitment for 7 days. On those days you cannot allow yourself to entertain thoughts that are not positive, constructive, optimistic, or kind for a minute. If you have a slip you can not let it pass, you will have to restart another series of 7 days. I share some ideas of his proposal that can be useful for your life … You choose your life. You choose the conditions when you choose the thoughts that your mind is occupied with. You cannot have one type of mind and another type of environment. The key to life is that if you change your mind, your conditions have to change; your work, activities, home … Change your mind and change your life.

Get used to choosing the object of your thoughts and also the emotional tone or mood that gives it color. You cannot be healthy, happy, or prosperous, if you are ill-disposed to do so. If you live in a bad mood, angry, depressed, tense, if you have superior, scared, if you feel that your life is not worth it … Unless you decide to cultivate a good disposition, you decide to start taking care of the kind of thoughts that you go to have, everything will change. Select and control your thoughts. The current and the impacts from the outside often prevent us from progressing, but remember that the power is in you. A negative thought is any thought of criticism, resentment, spite, jealousy, condemnation of another, guilt. Do not worry about classifying it, that which does not give you peace, it is not positive.

It is very important that you remember that it is not the thoughts that come to your mind but only those that you welcome and entertain. No matter what comes to mind, the important thing is not to harbor it. Reject that thought and immediately think of something else, think of God, think of the blessings you have. Repeat this statement “None of these things move me and everything will be fine.” When you surround yourself with negative people or situations, listen to them, but do not adopt it, do not dwell on it, do not give them power. In the face of injustice, do not react with pity, do what is in you to straighten things out, to think proactively. Remember that if you want to be happy, which is what God wants from your life, you have to start training yourself in the habit of selecting and controlling your thoughts. At first it will be difficult, but try and do it again, remember that it is a mental exercise. This will help you to know what you normally complain or overwhelm about, what obstacles you create yourself in your life. You will be able to look at interesting things about yourself, recognize many of the things that prevent you from growing, being successful, having prosperous relationships and being happy.