Great Thinking

“Walk with the wise and become wise, associate with fools and get in trouble.”  These powerful words come from the book of Proverbs 13:20.  When I read these words a week or so ago I thought to myself “one of the main differences in my life today compared to my life of addiction is the people I walk and associate with.” 

Many years ago I heard a powerful saying and it goes something like this…”Small minds and small people talk about things, i.e. the weather, sports, money, cars, vacation…you know “things,” average minds and average people talk about other people, i.e. gossip, criticism, jealousies etc…, GREAT MINDS AND GREAT PEOPLE talk about concepts, ideas and ways to get better in order to make a difference in the world.”  

When I heard this quote I was taken back because after doing a quick evaluation of whether I was living small, average or great, I found I was spending way too much time talking about things and other people.  I was living just above “small.” This way of living was comfortable for me, in a way I felt more powerful because I always knew everything when it came to talking about things and other people…at least I thought I knew everything.  

I have gradually changed over the years and today I know feeling comfortable often means I’m living small.  Today I choose to not spend much time talking about things and I really try hard to not talk about other people.  I try my best to interact with great minds or with other people who have a desire towards great thinking…”walk with the wise and become wise.” 

This change did not come without action on my part.  It took effort to get out of my comfort zone and into the “great zone.”  Today I know it is my choice whether or not I want to walk with the wise.  I start my day with prayer and scripture reading in order to get in touch with the wisest being there is…God.  This in turn gives me incentive to seek out wise counsel throughout the day.   

Today I purposely interact with as many “great thinking” people I can on a daily basis.  I have spiritual mentors, business mentors and life mentors that keep me from thinking small.  I’ve been blessed with a wife who is extremely wise and she helps makes sure I never get too “comfortable” with my thinking if you know what I mean.  I also make myself available so that I may assist other people desiring greatness for their own lives.  I simply try to keep my mind from small and average thinking as much as I can.

Where do you spend most of your “mind time” today?  Do what I did many years ago keep track of where your mind spends it’s time for a day or even a week.  Do you spend most of the day thinking and talking about things and/or other people or are you getting out of your comfort zone and thinking and discussing ideas, concepts and changes that will make a difference in your life and ultimately the world?   

As Paul says in Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”  God transforms us by working through the faces, spaces and places we spend our time with.  Choose to spend the majority of your time in “great” places today and slowly but surely your mind will be transformed and your life will become a part of a greater purpose.

P.E.A.C.E.