If the one thing that we have control over is our thoughts, then why do most people live in mediocrity and fail to achieve major goals. It is because most people  have made a habit of letting the three powerful forces or influences control their thoughts and beliefs. If you do not guard your mind against the negative effects of these extremely powerful influences, then you risk your life being dictated and ultimately controlled by something or someone else.

The 3 forces that work tirelessly and intentionally to control your thoughts and keep you from achieving your goals are:

1. THE MEDIA:

Television  is the most powerful tool used to influence the masses that was ever invented.

Repeated commercials and brand placements control our buying habits.  Images of the people on television influence how we live and act. Companies spend millions of dollars to learn how to affect your thinking with their advertisements and subliminal messages.

When you bundle television with radio, print (i.e. newspapers, magazines, etc...) music, and the internet, we are literally bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands of messages every single day!

It is usually the media outlet that we have the most exposure to, that has greatest influence on our minds. What type of media are you exposed to the most?  Is it helping you or hindering you?

2. ASSOCIATIONS:

Our associations are the people in our lives.  This includes family, friends, enemies, mentors, teachers, preachers, etc.

The people that influence our thoughts the most are usually the ones that we spend the most time with. There are some people that we must deal with on a regular basis because we either live with them or work with them. Nevertheless, we do have control over the amount of time we spend with most of the people in our lives. Do the person or people that you spend the majority of your time with empower you or limit you?

3. INSTITUTIONS:

Institutions are extremely powerful forces that influence our thoughts on a regular basis. These institutions include but are not limited to: governments, schools, churches and other types of organizations. Are the dominating beliefs of the institutions that you are affiliated with building you up, or tearing you down?

Institutions have caused more people to sacrifice their lives because they have held such a strong grip on their thoughts and beliefs.

We are all influenced every day by people and things.  The first step is to recognize the dominant influences in our lives.  Next we must ask ourselves are these influences helping us or hindering us from reaching our goals in life.

If the influence is helping you, then get more of it.  If the influence is hindering you then it is important to start working on strategies and techniques to limit or eliminate that negative influence from your life.