If you asked ten people what a clean mind is, at least 8 of
them would tell you something about the absents of sexual thoughts. When it
comes to our mind's state, it seems that sex is the first thing to be looked
at. Many people spend a good deal of their time thinking about sex or sexual
things. However, I believe that there is a more significant threat to our mind's
health, and it comes in the form of anger, resentment, envy, and selfishness.
Businessman W. Clement Stone defined bondage this way: "Bondage
is – subjection to external influences and internal negative thoughts and
attitudes."When we allow our thoughts to be dominated by negativity and
uncleanness, we keep ourselves in bondage. There is no freedom to the man or
woman who is imprisoned in their mind. Scouts learn that true freedom is not
what is on the outside but the inside. A person can have no restrictions on
their life and yet be a slave.
"Be strong
in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals."
James Naismith
1861-1939
Educator
Scouts train their minds and keep harmful and unclean out of
their thought habits. Radio Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll said, "The secret
of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of
excellence. It's a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information
that will set us free."
I have always found it interesting that the one thing we
have full power over – our minds – is the one thing we allow so many other
things to control. We are influenced by movies, books, music, and society. For
some, they surrender their mind to every wind that blows through and does
little to control their thinking habits.
Scouting believes that their mental health is as essential
as physical health. They feed their mind positive, wholesome information, and
purposely avoid any negative or unclean thinking. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
said, "Great thoughts and a pure heart, that is what we should ask from
God." With great thoughts and a pure heart, you can achieve anything. Once
you have your head cleaned up, the rest is just detail stuff.
All greatness first starts in mind. If the mind is unclean,
all your actions will be unclean. Augustus Hare said, "As to the pure all
things are pure, even so to the impure all things are impure."Keep your
mind clean and healthy, and success will be yours.
Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the
lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success
principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John
Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however,
he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John
Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick
Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church,
business, or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com. ©
2020 John Patrick Hickey
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