If you leave a garden unattended, weeds will grow in abundance.

They do best when left alone. They don’t need any nurturing, nutrients, watering, or attention from you. They’ll grow just fine on their own.

But if you want a garden full of beautiful flowers or delicious fruits and vegetables, you must be intentional.

You must dig, plant, water, fertilize, nurture… And rip up the weeds by the root!

The same is true for the thoughts in your head, the story you’re telling yourself on a daily basis.

The negative thoughts are weeds.

“I can’t…”

“They won’t let me…”

“This won’t work…”

“I’ve failed before so why should I try again?”

“I’m not good enough…”

These thoughts will spring up naturally and strangle the garden of your mind if you sit idly. And they’ll take over without any action on your part.

So, just like with the garden in your backyard, you must be intentional and put in the difficult, caring work. Rip out the weedy thoughts by the roots. Replace them with the good stuff, whatever that is for you.

Positive mental attitudes, affirmations, visualizations… Or my favorite: someone else’s encouraging words playing on repeat in your head. (I’d recommend starting here.)

Whatever you want to grow in your mind, treat it with the same care and attention you would with a beautiful garden of your own.