SPIRIT OF THE MIND - A REPAIR IS NEEDED

Last time we discovered that the Spirit of the Mind is the spirit wind of the thoughts that blow in and set our mind adrift unknowingly.

One minute we were thinking about one thing, and then the very next minute a completely different thought was getting our attention.

Those thoughts are the things that pull us in an unsuspecting direction, and we seem to have no control over where they are taking us.

Having a wandering mind has become all too commonplace in today’s world due to all the distractions/ploys/advertisements that demand our attention every second of the day. Each ding, bling, ping, sound, notification or alarm beckons us to stay close by.

So many things are vying for attention because our attention is valuable. It’s a limited resource that can be profited from once it’s been captured.

In business circles it is seen as commerce that can be gained by getting folks attention in what is known as the “attention economy”.

That’s why there is such an increased effort in technology to come up with new and more persuasive designs to capture our attention.

Research has shown that we each have upward of 60,000 thoughts a day.

That’s a huge target market to focus on. Notifications, updates, discounted sales marketing, personal buying guides, search engine advertising, and the list goes on and on of things saying think about me.

Each one contains its very own personalized dopamine boosting component message promising all the pleasures of life. The more erotic, irrational, outrageous and eccentric it is, the more we want it. It’s a drug.

Advertising agencies understand that our brains are wired to constantly process information, which makes us very susceptible to involuntary media cues from each device or platform that we interact with.

Our brain processes over 74 GB of data a day. That’s 74 billion bytes, 55,000 floppy disks, 500 million songs, or 70 million books. Many ISP’s only offer 25GB for home service. That’s a ton of data.

So, they prey on us using that information. That’s why you can’t seem to put your mobile phone down. You are afraid you might miss something.

Studies show that we look at our mobile phones more than 200 times a day, lasting over a 5-hour period. Our thoughts/attention is being exploited as a commodity by the attention economy overlords.

The objective is to make the ancillary the attraction.

It’s not even a matter of WHAT they want us to focus on. That can vary from platform to platform. That’s not the issue.

The real issue is WHAT THEY DONT WANT US TO FOCUS ON!

OURSELVES, that’s what they don’t want us to get to know.

If you and I get to know who we are, then we’ll know they don’t have anything we need. That will put them out of business.

In this digital age, attention is currency. Businesses, media outlets, and individuals are all competing to sell or promote an idea or value.

So, they collect data on our behavior patterns to pitch us what we like.

Science has proven there is a definite link between what we perceive and what we think. The Bible puts it this way; as a person thinks, so are they.

Culture says, Perception is Reality. That’s why there is such a big focus on perception! Perception is not sight, nor insight, but it is Vision.

They want us to perceive their Vision. Dreams are perceptive, but so are nightmares. What are you perceiving?

Your meditative thoughts are reimaged thoughts. You meditate on what your eyes have seen. That’s why vision is more critical than sight.

Another word for vision is revelation. Vision is not seen, it is revealed.

Are you being led by what you want to see or what has been revealed?

The Mind is a Battlefield, and to the Victor goes the Spoils.

The Bible offers us some Divine help for this very type of situation.

Do away with your former patterns of thinking, your old self, which is being corrupted by deceitful desires. Become renewed in your thoughts, in the spirit of your mind, and put on a new you, the you, that God created you to be.

The Greek word for “Renewed” is translated as repair. We must repair our corrupt thinking, thank God, our brain is designed to do just that.

The Greek word for “Mind” is “Nous” which refers to reflection of thought. This means we need to repair our reflective/meditative thoughts

You and I must change the things we think about. We need to repair what/who controls our thoughts.

To do this we have to practice intentional mindfulness through meditation, take deep breaths to manage stress and increase awareness, and reduce or limit digital distractions. Stop “mindless” scrolling.

Take a break, go outside and observe nature. Look up at the sky.

Remain present, embrace each moment that is in front of you because that is all that you have.

One of the Principal concepts behind The Law of Attention is that where you direct your mental focus influences where your energy flows.

That can explain why we are always so tired and restless.

This is a Thompson Truth