“One of these days, I am going to be rich.” This was the thought that played in a mind of a person who experienced discrimination from rich relations when he was young. The thought never left his mind. He studied hard, worked even harder, and eventually rose up the corporate ladder and met the right people. Now he is very rich and his relatives have experienced a change of fortune.

It all starts from the heart, it all starts from a thought that comes from the heart. This is not a lesson about becoming rich, but rather to realize whatever our goals or intentions in life, it starts from the heart. That is why Jesus reminds us to watch our hearts. Whether vice or virtue, that is where it starts. 

Hence we should realize the power of the heart, the power of our thoughts. Three things we should guard:

1. Guard our heart from idleness. Idleness is the workshop of the devil. When we are not doing anything, that is when all the negative thoughts come in. Eventually, constant thoughts of the same matter lead to acts of reality. Make sure your acts stem from productivity instead of idleness.
   
2. Guard your heart against dishonesty. Sometimes we ask ourselves how people can lie and still sleep at night? How can a person steal millions of pesos and not be affected? It all starts small. From small white lies, it eventually leads to becoming a pathological liar or thief, where the dishonesty becomes easier and easier with larger stakes. 
   
3. Guard your heart again anger. Eventually the desire for revenge creeps in. When we take revenge, two people get hurt: the person we take revenge on AND ourselves. The most who is hurt more though, is the one who is angry. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually, he/she is affected.

May we always watch our hearts, to watch our thoughts. We remember these words of wisdom:

Watch your thoughts, they become words

Watch your words, they become actions

Watch your actions, they become habits

Watch your habits, they become your character

Watch your character, they become your destiny

Lao Tzu