For many years I held to the idea that “Ideas have consequences“. Good ideas have good consequences and bad ideas take you places you don’t want to go. You may have pleasure doing it, yet someone’s going to have to clean up the mess.
One 19th century thinker went so far as to say “A bad book is a big thief”. He went on to point out how they rob you of your time and good principles. Once lost in their pages, ideas and thoughts are presented to you while your defenses are down.
It’s amazing what you allow into your mind in the name of ‘entertainment’. Although the authors of entertaining books reap financial rewards, I learn more looking at their lives.
I consider how they ‘really’ live. When their lives are filled with accusations of affairs and multiple marriages, it tells me that what they’re selling is likely not very wholesome.
Whatever is in their hears is going to come out in what they write. If their marriages are shams or a series of relationships, they aren’t going to be giving you positive habits that improve your marriage.
They can only take you as far as they’ve come in their own lives. Sure, they entertain you along the way, but eventually you’ll have to consider the destination where you end up.
This is especially true when recovering from an affair. At those times, you’re emotionally vulnerable. Your mind is confused as to what to do. When your brain is confused, it makes you more likely to be influenced by the message it contains.
My question is “Does reading such a book makes your marriage stronger and more affair proof, or does it threaten your relationship and weaken it?” If such a book and its message weakens your marriage, it qualifies as a ‘bad book’.
Instead of looking for an escape from things, consider taking steps that improve your marriage. One thing your can do is subscribe to the “30 Days to a Better Marriage” program which guides you and your spouse in strengthening your communication and your marriage in a month’s time.
Click and subscribe today.
Keeping It Real,
Jeff
