An unattended mind is like a neglected garden. Potting soil is incredibly receptive to any seeds introduced to it. It has absolutely no discretion when it comes to playing host to seeds; it says, “Yes” to all of them.

So it is with our mind, which is amazingly receptive to whatever suggestions are dropped into it. It has been said that the subconscious mind cannot take a joke. Whatever is introduced to it, it takes as serious instruction to grow that thought-seed into a full-blown plant, be it a flower or a weed.

When we pause to consider how many thought-seeds are blown, dropped or purposely planted in our mind on a daily basis, it may prompt us to tend to our mental garden with more regularity. These may come from media, negative conversation or overheard comments. The subconscious mind hears it all and takes it personally. The only way to avoid this type of mind pollution is to be consciously focused on what we want to have planted and growing in our flower box called life. It’s a 24/7 proposition to keep it weeded as thousands of mental seeds constantly pour in.

A good full-time gardener plants thought-seeds about their self and others that are rooted in reverence and loving-kindness and skillfully nurtures them. Others will then receive nothing but benefit from the seeds we drop along the way.

Dennis Merritt Jones, D.D., is the author of Your Re-Defining Moments, The Art of Uncertainty and The Art of Being, the source of this essay. He has contributed to the human potential movement and field of spirituality as a minister, teacher, coach and lecturer for 30 years. Learn more at DennisMerrittJones.com.