How's Your Conscience Doing?

You know— that part of your brain that nags you to do the right thing? That brain function that informs you of right and wrong. How is it doing? Is it healthy or is it a bit under the weather? Is it able to function or is it all clogged up with junk that shouldn't be interfering with your thinking processes? So, how is your conscience doing?

The conscience is located in the frontal lobe of the brain. Humans have the most prominent frontal lobe above any other creatures on earth. According to the Cleveland Clinic

Your brain’s frontal lobe is home to areas that manage thinking, emotions, personality, judgment, self-control, muscle control and movements, memory storage and more. Cleveland Clinic

Much was learned about the function of the frontal lobe from Phineas Gage who suffered a serious brain injury and survived. You can read the story here. Phineas Gage story Phineas was, prior to his accident, a young man who was hard working and likeable. After recovering, he was a different man, given to heavy drinking and unable to hold a job. His friends said he had changed. What caused the change? The damage to his frontal lobe.

Our brains are wonderful equipment. The brain regulates the entire body—  physical, mental,  emotional, and psychological. We should keep our brains in a healthy condition. We really don't think much about keeping a healthy brain. We see all kinds of messages about keeping our bodies healthy. There is information freely available on ways to combat mental issues such as depression. But almost nothing about how to have a healthy brain.

Everything we put into our body becomes brain food. I do mean everything from what goes into the stomach to what goes through the eyes and ears. All of it becomes food for our brains for good or bad. 

2000 years ago, Paul, an apostle of Jesus and a missionary wrote prolifically. His letters (often referred to as epistles) are found in the New Testament of the Bible. In his letter to the Philippians, he told what is good brain food through the eyes and ears. 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8.

So, again, how is your conscience doing? Are you feeding your frontal lobe, where your conscience resides, with things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report? If your brain food is not of this character, then the state of your conscience may be less than best.

If your conscience is telling you that it is okay to tell lies, to take things that don't belong to you, to, yes, use foul language, then your conscience is having trouble telling right from wrong. If you are spending your time feasting on things that are violent, immoral, time wasting, depressing, exciting, it is time to assess the state of your conscience and determine what needs to be removed from the sight of your eyes and the hearing of your ears. 

It's time to start treating your brain with the care you give to the rest of your body.

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 23:6, 7