As a Coach with the Grace and Strength lifestyle, I've been speaking with some of the ladies that I coach about what their mind downloads in a given day and what they choose to believe, or have come to believe over the years.

Mental downloads happen on a constant and consistent basis.  What you mentally download in a day will blow your mind if and when you take the time to intentionally think about what is going on around you and what you hear or allow into your life.  So I ask, what mental downloads are you acquiring throughout a given day?

About a month ago, I sat in the living room working on a few projects that I had to get done.  I didn't think nothing about my son coming in and turning on the television or what programs he was watching.  I was completely focused on what I was doing and didn't give much thought to what was going on around me, or so I thought.  It wasn't until a couple hours later when my son and I were talking that I realized what mental downloads were happening within myself and children in my own home. So what did I do?  I began paying more attention to my surroundings and what was going on around me, and what words I allowed to be spoken into me.

Yesterday, I listened to a sermon and although the sermon as a whole was fabulous, it was the end of the message that caught my attention the most when this pastor spoke about the music people listen to. Again, as he said, I'm not saying it's wrong to listen to music. However, I sat down and made a list of my top 10 favorite songs and looked up their lyrics. This was huge for me because when I'd be having a rotten day, I'd listen to my favorite music...when I was frustrated, I'd listen to my favorite music...When my feelings were hurt, I'd listen to my favorite music. I didn't listen to this same music when my day was going good, or when I was needing something to softly play in the background as I worked, or when good came about.  Again, this was something I needed to pay attention to in my life so I could see where my mental downloads were coming from, both positive and negative.

Over the past few days, my husband and I have been discussing our friendships/relationships and how they affect our lives.  Who is it that builds us up, and exactly who it is that tears us down?  Who have we hung around, and what do they add or take away from us as individuals and as a couple?  Who brings positive mental downloads to us and who slips into our minds and chistles away at who we are and what positive changes we have tried to make as we establish ourselves on a different path than even a year ago?  Who promotes and celebrates us, and who deters us from our dreams and goals?  Exactly who wants the best for us, and who holds us back?

All of these things are little mental downloads that add up to one big mental download. On good days, my mental downloads were great and origionated from people and places that promote a positive perspective. But on bad days it was quite the opposite.  I'm not just one who wants change, I genuinely seek it. And this has been one of the greatest realizations God has helped open my eyes and heart too.

My personal perspective of who I am and who God created me to be has been being sabotaged by who and what I have allowed in my life as well as my own actions.  How God sees me was not always how I was seeing myself becauseI allowed my head and thoughts to be tainted by things I tollerated and accepted in my life.  I am on a mission to becoming more aware of what mental downloads I allow in my own head and be more intentional with my life not just for myself, but for my relationship with God, my marriage and my children.

So again I ask... What mental downloads are you allowing into your mind?

- Coach Anna

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* Individual results may vary.