All it takes is a suggestion.

A person or group, music or media can plant an idea–or two– in your head and cause all kinds of trouble. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. In the dark place you shoved it, it grows alongside all the other ideas or thoughts planted. And just like those other seeds, when disregarded, it takes on the shape of truth. It looks right, seem plausible.

That unsolicited suggestion–that nagging thought–that lie– growing inside you wraps itself around your truth and fight vigorously to choke it out. It strives to be the winner of your heart.

As it matures and grows stronger, you find yourself torn, struggling with conflicting thoughts and emotions that become increasingly harder to ignore. At first you were confident the implanted thought was wrong, but now you’re not so sure.

Then “proof” begins to materialize in your life adding to your conflict. It would have been better if you had uprooted it the moment it was planted, but you didn’t realize how much trouble it would cause. The confusion, uncertainty, and stress make you more open to the idea.

But if you were to uproot and discard it now, it would only add to your confusion. Now that it has become intertwined with everything else. You can’t separate it.

But everything comes to a head at some point, and if you can hold out, and not give in, everything will become clear. If you can keep resisting it, you will finally overpower it and be able to rid yourself of the menacing idea altogether.

But that’s the challenge…getting to that point. Enduring to the end. A lot can happen before then.

The resistance will be tough, but it’ll make you stronger. The alternative is losing control of your mind through manipulation and being enslaved by a lie.

So once you finally recognize the rogue idea, resist it and don’t stop. The truth will make you free– if you really want the truth. If you have the courage to face it and embrace it.

If you don’t give up, you will make it through the confusion and the waves of doubt . Your mind, your heart, and your soul are worth fighting for.

Finally when the clouds disperse and the skies clear, the headaches and uncertainty disappear. Your world is right-side up and makes sense again. Thank God!

In the future, you must learn to be vigilant and self-aware. The world is always pregnant with ideas and she gives birth every minute.

Not every new idea is an enemy, but it must be examined.

Flip the idea over, turn it around, scrutinize it. Your mind shouldn’t be an open door to any and everything. Test the idea or thought with what you know to be true. When you know it’s wrong, uproot it right away. Get rid of it.

If, on the other hand, you examine it but remain uncertain, isolate the thought or idea for further testing, but don’t ignore it. You already know what happens when its left unchecked.

–D.L. Lunsford