Conscious Consumption

The term "conscious consumption" is widely known to mean having an awareness of how your consumption affects society as a whole. Examples of this might be: mindfulness of your use of paper and plastic products; taking public transportation to cut down on pollution and the consumption of oil and gas; or eating vegetarian or vegan in advocacy for animals. All of these are tasks to be applauded, and in a perfect world, I'd like to think that I would be more dedicated to these factors! But when I say conscious consumption, I'm referring to being cognizant of the things we ingest with our minds!

INPUT DETERMINES OUTCOME

My closest friends depend on me as a source of positivity, but I'm human so I certainly have off-days. Sometimes, I have seasons where I feel like I have a good grasp on my emotions...I'm able to shake the small stuff and find ways to uplift the energy of those around me. In other seasons, I find myself easily overwhelmed or anxious, and I feel guilty for not sharing my brightest light with my tribe! I've discovered a pattern in these feelings, and they are derived from my own actions. My light feels dim when I'm overthinking... I get discouraged about what I view as failures, or get impatient when I think of unsatisfactory circumstances in my present life. On the other hand, I feel like my best self when I'm very intentional about being my best self! For me, that looks like praying consistently, reading my Bible, going to church, speaking self affirmations, frequent checkins with my loved ones, and making productive strides toward my personal and professional goals! Yes, that's a lot! And yes, it's difficult for me to manage it all; hence, why I fall short pretty often! But I've realized that this is the formula for me to feel whole! The catch is that I've also realized that when I fall off of my regimen, it's due to a shift in my focus. When I'm not my best, I notice details like the fact that I've gone a week without listening to worship while I'm driving...because maybe I'm just so into Chris Brown that week! Or I notice that I've been more into Netflix and less into sermons. I've had moments where I've seen a social media post and I allowed that to alter my whole mood. The point is I have found a direct correlation between what I consume and how I feel, and I would bet that it's the same for all of us!

Remember, positivity is a super power! It can only flow FROM you if it's IN you!

QUARANTINE CONSUMPTION

One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 23:7, "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." That means we have to be very mindful of our thoughts. What we believe about ourselves is true. If what we expose ourselves to, plays a substantial part in the way we think and feel, we need to do our best to take in good and limit negativity and worldly things. (Not saying that it's sinful to jam out to Chris Breezy etc, but just to be aware of what that content is arousing inside of you and put a limit on it!) During this lockdown, make appointments with God! Write in time for prayer and devotions on your daily planner. When you have moments where you feel anxious or worn out from being inside, walk through your house and speak affirmations over yourself. Declare that you and your family will make it through! Video chat with your loved ones and encourage them. Most importantly, keep your faith about your future! Know that you will emerge from this better than before! Do what it takes to make that a reality! Remember, positivity is a super power! It can only flow FROM you if it's IN you!