You are what your mind eats.

I have a confession: I watched trash television last night. Love Is Blind? Yes, that show counts as trash, and I was right there among the raccoons, eating it up.

It was all good fun to laugh and enjoy the show with friends. I have no regrets, but the experience reminded me of something important. I woke up with vague memories of the show, my mind processing the clever editing designed to highlight the insecurities, foolishness, and drunken antics of the contestants. Not even fully formed thoughts—just a set of hazy impressions clearly linked to the show. My mind felt distracted and filled with fluff.

I'm not here to insist that we all stop watching trash television (though, now that I think about it, that would probably solve a lot of problems). Instead, I want to offer a reminder: what our mind consumes becomes part of us, even if only for a brief moment. Whatever media and information we ingest, we process and digest, often unconsciously. We start having spontaneous thoughts that mirror what we see—uninvited and out of our control. That’s worth emphasizing.

When we consume fear-mongering media, we become more fearful. When we watch outrageous news, we become outraged. So, what would happen if we curated our media consumption to foster the emotions we want to have, rather than those external forces push upon us?

The physical diet metaphor fits well here: you are what you eat. The food you consume shapes your body and influences your organ health. The cleaner the diet, the better the chances for excellent physical well-being. Indulgences are fine—in fact, denying oneself all unhealthy but pleasurable foods can have adverse psychological effects. Balance is key. But the core truth remains: what you consume literally alters the form and function of your body.

The same principle applies to the mind. Neural pathways physically form based on the information we consume, reflecting the patterns we repeatedly expose ourselves to and train against. So, why not choose what we feed our minds? Inspiring, thought-provoking, awe-inducing, or challenging media—there’s a buffet of healthy options out there. We have choices about how to curate our mental diet, reducing exposure to media that fosters unhealthy, impotent emotions.

That said, I’m not advocating that we avoid all negative or challenging media. If we have the psychological tools and awareness to turn our outrage into productive action, then all the better. But let’s be honest—most media moguls aim to enrage us over things we can hardly influence amidst our busy lives. So, be cautious about feeding on rage when there’s little you can do to change the situation. Avoid falling prey to impotent emotions.

Armed with this knowledge, we have a choice: what will you eat to keep your mind healthy?

PS: Just after writing this, I came across a quote from the FS Brainfood newsletter that resonates perfectly with this idea:

"Your body reflects what you eat. Your mind reflects what you consume. For a healthy body, choose whole foods. For a sharp mind, choose lasting knowledge.

What’s lasting knowledge? It’s wisdom that endures: Timeless principles, foundational ideas, and insights that remain relevant for years, not hours.

Before diving into the news or scrolling through feeds, ask: 'Will this still matter next year?' If not, it’s probably mental junk food. The sugar high will leave you craving even more.

Avoid mental junk food. Feed your mind substance. Your future self will thank you."