Our society does a great job of protecting you from poison. Warning labels say toxic, unsafe, poisonous. We put childproof caps on to keep our kids away. News specials are produced about which plants can kill you or your pets.

But we do nothing to protect ourselves from mental poison, and it can be just as deadly.

What you read, watch, listen to, and tell yourself can be toxic. It can suck the life-force right out of you if you let it.

“You can never be successful.”

“You don’t deserve that.”

“Rich people are greedy and exploit others.”

“The game is rigged against you.”

“Just keep your head down and do what they expect.”

Are you eating mental food that builds you up, or tears you down?

“You were created for a fantastic reason.”

“You are worthy of the extraordinary life of your dreams.”

“You can get everything you want in this life if you help enough other people get what they want.” (Zig Ziglar)

“Your hard work is paying off.”

Beware all types of poison. Avoid it the way you avoid drinking bleach.

Feast on the most positive stuff you can find.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8New International Version (NIV)