Whatever you hear consistently over time will eventually enter your heart, and whatever enters your heart will begin to control your life.
Let that sink in.
We live in a world full of noise. Voices from all directions are trying to shape how we think, how we live, what we buy, who we trust, and even how we feel about ourselves. But not every voice deserves a seat at your table. Not every opinion should matter to you. And definitely, not everyone deserves your attention.
Let me share a true-life story that still baffles me to this day.
Mr. Daniel was trying to park his vehicle one day. As he was reversing, he noticed a man enthusiastically giving him directions from behind. This stranger seemed confident, waving his hands and nodding as if to say, “Keep coming, you’re doing just fine.” Mr. Daniel followed the signals without question. After all, the man appeared to be helping.
But in a split second, things went wrong. The car’s back tires sank deep, he had reversed straight into a gutter.
Startled and frustrated, Mr. Daniel jumped out of the car, ready to confront the man who had misled him. But what he saw made his jaw drop.
The man wasn’t just laughing, he was laughing hysterically.
That’s when it hit him.
The man was mentally unstable.
He had taken instructions from someone who didn’t even know what he was doing.
Now think about that for a moment. How often do we do the same thing in life?
How often do we take direction from people who have no clarity, no proven track record, no stability, and worse still, no real concern for our well-being?
Be Careful Who You Listen To
Don’t let every voice shape your decision-making. Not every comment deserves a reply, not every opinion should hold weight, and certainly not every piece of advice should be acted upon.
Sometimes, the most confident voices are the most misleading. Just because someone speaks loudly or seems sure doesn’t mean they’re right.
As the quote by Robert G. Allen says:
“Don’t let the opinions of the average man sway you. Dream, and he thinks you’re crazy. Succeed, and he thinks you’re lucky. Acquire wealth, and he thinks you’re greedy. Pay no attention. He simply doesn’t understand.”
This is the age of social media where everyone suddenly has an opinion about everything, your parenting, your career choices, your lifestyle, even your faith. If you’re not careful, you’ll be led into emotional, financial, or spiritual gutters by people who don’t even know where they’re going.
Reflection
Imagine this: You’re scrolling through social media and someone mocks your hustle. They say things like, “Why work so hard when you could just live soft?” or “All these business people are just greedy.” If you’re not careful, their voice begins to echo in your mind, and you start questioning your purpose.
The truth is, you must protect your mental space. The quality of any talk depends on the speaker. Who is speaking into your life? What do they stand for? What have they achieved? Are they aligned with your values?
Even Jesus asked in Mark 4:24 (KJV), “Take heed what ye hear…”
Final Thoughts
In this life, you can’t afford to take instructions from just anyone.
Be discerning. Be selective. Be wise.
Because not everyone giving directions is actually going anywhere, and some may even lead you into ditches they themselves can’t escape from.
Guard your ears, guard your heart, and by all means, guard your future.