Hack Your Brain

What is a "Meh Day"? I’ll tell you what it is. It’s when your brain gets hijacked by a mental computer virus called “Nothing’s Working.” This corrupted code weaves its way through your mind, convincing you—just for a day—that life is nothing more than a black-and-white film that never made it to the box office. The truth is, mental viruses like these don’t last longer than a day—unless we choose to feed them.

So, what do we do when sulking takes over and “woe is me” begins to set up shop in our mental control center? The only thing we can do: hack the hack. After all, while we aren’t literal computers, we are complex beings running on mental algorithms, coding, and programs that keep us in flow and shape who we are. Oh yeah, back to the question—how do we hack the hack?

Let me take you to one of my favorite scenes from Independence Day. Remember when Jeff Goldblum’s character realizes the aliens planted a virus in Earth’s computer system to locate and destroy our most prized cities and monuments? At first, humanity feels powerless. But then Goldblum has an epiphany after his father mentions the common cold. “That’s it!” he exclaims. “I’m gonna give them a virus.” He flips the script and hacks the hacker. If you haven’t seen this film, please pause here and enrich your life with this sci-fi classic.

I love this part because it illustrates such a profound truth: sometimes the best way to rise above a problem is to beat it at its own game.

So, what do viruses do? They mimic the internal dialogue of the mind, implant negative, self-defeating thought patterns (like consecutive bad code), and try to overwhelm us with repetition and falsehoods. The scariest part? These lies are often so close to the truth that they pass as valid inputs. Oh, they’re clever. But guess what? You’re better.

God equipped us with the ability to override these mental viruses. He gave us memory—the ultimate hack.

Viruses thrive on the present moment, using current challenges to cloud our future. But memory has the power to debunk their lies. It reminds us of our victories, our breakthroughs, and God’s faithfulness. And when we pair our willpower with God’s will, something incredible happens: clarity. I call it the cure of clarity.

Mental viruses work hard to make the future seem foggy. They whisper lies like, “Nothing’s working. You’ll keep trying to improve your life, but something will always come along to destroy it. So why even bother?” Don’t buy it. Override the lie.

Use your memory to recall a time when God came through for you—when He delivered a Hail Mary and rescued you from a daunting situation. Or think of a time when you worked hard, reached your goal, and celebrated the outcome. These moments remind us that it’s always God working behind the scenes. He aligns our steps, clears paths where none exist, and shapes our lives according to His divine plan. It’s not our striving that makes things happen—it’s His intervention. Not sometimes. Always.

So, hack the hack, dear reader. Don’t let mental viruses make you forget the blessings you’ve experienced or the beauty of life. Rainy days—and even rainy seasons—happen. But rain isn’t a sign of stagnation; it’s evidence of growth. It means blooming is on the horizon.

Oh, and let’s not forget those mirror affirmations. I did mine last week—missed a couple of days—but nailed it five times, and I felt incredible. Progress, not perfection, right?

Here’s your next step: take a moment today to stroll down memory lane. Recall a time when God showed you favor. Let that memory anchor you and remind you of the truth: no virus stands a chance against His plan.

Until next time,
Maria 🌹