Tending to the Garden of the Mind: How to Identify and Remove Weeds of Thought

Elena Zanfei
May 23
2 min read

I regularly search for weeds in the garden of my mind.

Gardening requires diligence; we don't just plant and then move on. We must be present for the process to yield favorable results.

Plants need regular watering, pruning, and general care, and each year, I enrich the soil with nutrients to help them grow deeper and stronger. The care I give to the plants also encourages the growth of weeds, so I frequently examine my garden for weeds and remove them lest they choke out and take over my flowers.

Mentally, I commit to the same practice.

Like a garden, keeping my mind active and creative requires diligence. I seek new opportunities to challenge my thoughts. By carefully selecting what I read, watch on television, use social media, or listen to the radio, I feed myself the new and 'right' information. Digesting the information is like enriching the soil.

The rumination that follows is similar to the act of tilling. New ideas and thoughts grow from this.

However, I am wary of the weeds: stray, unwanted, and unhealthy thoughts.

The weeds can choke out the growth I want. I am quick to remove the weeds, maximizing the potential growth of everything I planted. Sometimes a weed remains hidden, living long enough to flower. The flower is pretty, but the weed is detrimental to the plants. Like a misleading thought that appears advantageous, it is pretty in bloom, but bears no other benefit.