How has your heart been lately?

I don't mean your 'vital organ' heart, essential as that is. I'm thinking more of the 'inmost you,' the centre of your thought and emotion.

There's an old saying that we should look after our heart as it's the wellspring of life.

You and I are in the business of inspiring and influencing people - words with roots of breathing into and flowing into.

So let's pause and take stock of what we're letting into our own hearts. What we allow to flow in will flow out to others - what I call the FIFO principle.

To have a life-affirming influence on others, we need to have it to give away in the first place.

Take a FIFO inventory and decide what to jettison and what to stock up on. Consider these areas:

What you read - you're reading this, so you're already interested in your wellspring.

What else do you read for encouragement and edification? 

What you hear - do the lyrics of the music you listen to agree with your positive worldview?

Do you spend time with 'radiator' people - those that speak to build you and others up?