Kim M. Sudderth Online

	Where Words Can Take Your Health Buddha stated “To have good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.” We don’t realize our health is affected by more than the foods we eat. Our mind plays a key role is our health, for the better or for the worst. The mind is the garden, words are seeds, and you are the farmer. It doesn’t matter what you put in your mind, it will grow it and you will see the results of it. It’s the same as when you put vegetables, fruits, and lots of water in your body it will perform well. When you put fast food, soda, and junk food in your body, it will not perform well at all. As you can see in both a counts there is a result. When ever I entertained fear with words such as I can’t, what if, I am not good enough, it took root. Not only did my words take root, but the negative words of others took root as well. My mother told me she would always be smarter than me and that took root. I was held back in grade school a few times and was told by my counselor not to think about graduation while I was in my senior year of high school. I had two people planting negative seeds in my garden and I had no cue. I later went to college, where I received an F each semester thinking it was normal because of the seeds that were planted many years ago. It was at the point my mother’s words rang truth over me, I believed. Her words took root and grow. My health was in danger because my mind took in negative words, which affect every area of my life but I didn’t really understand. I later was dismissed from college, while thinking my mother was right about me. She was smarter and I was nothing and would be nothing. I believe words are long term investment that people speak over you. My mother planted those words when I was in my teens and it was 15 years later when I realized just how much my health and well being was affected by her words along with other people’s words. I became sick, depress and couldn’t understand why at that time. Do you see how someone’s words can shape your thinking and affect your life. When we allow negative words to take root in our mind it affects our thinking, which will affect our deciding making, which will in turn affect out health…body, mind, and soul. My pastor would always say you have no control of the birds flying over your head; however you have control of them from building a nest on your head. There is truth to that statement. You have the power to control what you take in or not to take in, that will affect your health. Are you tending over your garden or is someone else?
	....................................................................................................................................
	The company you keep can be a threat to your future You are as good as the company you keep. - John Erickson White When is the last time you evaluated your relationships? Fear’s goal is to steal your success, kill your dreams, and destroy your purpose. Someone else’s fear of your success will make them speak negatively over your life to change your course (and they don’t even realize it). When I say it’s up to you to protect your success and your future from people’s words and their fears, I tell you the truth. Taking an account of the relationships in your life should be something you do on a regular basis in order to preserve your future. People will always say they are in your corner and wish you the best with their lips, however when you need them they are not around to assist you. It is very important that we know who is in our corner. Relationships are like trees. A tree has leaves, branches, and the bark which is attached to the roots. You have people that come into your life for a season (a short time) to teach you a lesson(s), however they don’t stay long. They are like the leaves of the tree. Then you have people who come into your life that stay a longer time, however they are not there for the long haul. They are like the branches of a tree, which breaks off with one good blow from the wind. Then you have the bark and roots of a tree, which equals to family members, and your best friends. The ones who weather out the storms with you. They are the ones who you don’t have to ask or tell them what to do because they are already doing it. They are by your side during the shining of the sun and wetness of the rain. They are truly the bark and roots of your life. As you are taking an account of your relationships remember “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17) Your relationships should add value to your life not take away from it. If you find that some relationships are taking value away from your life, then please do your self a favor and remove them from your life. I know it sounds easier said than done, especially when the person who is not adding value to you is a parent or a spouse. In these special cases my advice is to first forgive them for their negative words and actions against you. Stay positive around them, for you will be the example of what success is right before their eyes going forward. It can be difficult, however your success and future is worth it. To offset these relationships you want to have more positive relationships surrounding yourself.