Burned by Your Own Fire

Leadership

Like a piece of sand picked up by a bird while snagging some food, it's hardly noticeable at first. Then once it gets stuck in its craw, it turns into a minor annoyance. The longer it stays there the more damaging it becomes as it collects other particles trying to pass by and grows in size. A negative thought. A mental whisper. A painful memory from the day. Something someone said you just can't forget. We lock them in our minds and ruminate on them until they completely take possession of our psyche and poison every other thought that tries to flow through. Until one day, that small spec of sand explodes like a verbal volcano and scorches the earth and people around us.

"But as I stood there in silence- not even speaking of good things- the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words." (Psalm 39:2)

Be careful of what you let your mind lock on to.

Thoughts can be deceiving if not tethered to truth and perspective.

And the longer the thought stays planted in your mind, the deeper its roots and more abundant the sprouts will grow. A single weed can destroy an entire crop as they usually grow much faster than the desired fruit and suck the nutrients out of the soil. You have to have a mechanism to pull them out.

Consider the thoughts you have about a new project you don't like or understand. Every time it comes up, are you looking for reasons to engage or find a reason it won't work?

What about a person you are sideways with? Everything that comes out of their mouth sounds like nails on a chalkboard or a personal attack.

A negative mental whisper about yourself? It saps the confidence to boldly step forward or take a shot.

For me, I pull these weeds by writing them down and getting them out of my head for a minute. I seek insight from people I trust to help me process them. I force myself to remember that an offense is an event, being offended is a choice. If I can't let something go, the faster I personally (not through others or a keyboard) address it with grace and calmness, the faster I am free to move towards the best.

What thoughts do you have that are creating turmoil in your mind? Mental roadblocks that just won't allow you to move forward? Things that cause you to grow hotter and hotter? Find a way to douse those flames before they erupt in a fire of words. That release may feel good, but remember, you'll be the first one to get burned.