Garbage In = Garbage Out. GIGO.
As a former computer programmer, I’m very familiar with this term, but just in case you’re not, GIGO means that with imprecise or faulty data coming into your computer, the system will process it and will output imprecise and faulty data.
Computers are very dumb. They do exactly what you tell them to do. If you give them garbage data or information, they will use that information and spew out garbage back to you. GIGO.
You need to be smarter than a dumb piece of machinery. You need to control what you are choosing to enter into your life.
Are you allowing garbage into your life?
What does GIGO really mean to you?
Are you allowing the very best information that you can into your life?
The internet has revolutionized data so much so that if you want to know anything, ANYTHING AT ALL, on earth, the internet will be able to give you that data. Is the data correct? Is it of quality? Is it worth your valuable time? Is it just plain wrong?
It’s up to you to decide whether the data you are taking into your life is garbage. Any garbage data coming in may affect your decisions so it’s very important to have the best and highest quality of information. Be critical of any information that you find on the internet. Get a second opinion. Seek out experts. Refer to multiple sources. Garbage In = Garbage Out.
Are you allowing the very best food into your life?
Eating unhealthy food (e.g. garbage) also needs to be controlled. Don’t you think that over time eating unhealthy food will catch up with you?
Sure, eating a chocolate bar or having ice cream or drinking sugary pop every day would be nice, but what kind of signal are you sending to your body? You’re basically telling yourself that you think that that’s all you are worth – unhealthy and fattening food.
Don’t you think you are worth the very best and most healthy food that you can afford? It’s amazing how much energy you have and how clear your thoughts are when your body is fed healthy food, rather than a constant stream of garbage. Garbage In = Garbage Out.
Are you allowing the very best people into your life?
The people we hang around with and associate with during our daily lives have the most impact on our lives. How can they not affect us?
As human beings, we are social creatures. Look around at the people with who you spend the majority of your time. Do your peers support you and empower you? Are they trying to grow as human beings? Or, are they static in their lives and comfortable playing the victim?
You know who I mean. Don’t you know someone in your life who is in the same situation for the last decade (or longer) who is not actively trying to improve themselves because they think that the world owes them? They are comfortable with the immaturity of youth and are safe in their victim mode. Time marches on for every one else, except for these people.
Do you think that if you hang around with people who are victims and who are negative, that that mentality won’t rub off onto you? Sure it would! It is so much better to be around people who are optimistic about life and who inspire you rather than people who are dream stealers or worse, have no dreams at all. I wrote about this during our Just For Today Challenge, Day 26: Examine Your Peer Group. If you haven’t read that article, please do so. Garbage In = Garbage Out. (Just to be clear, I’m not saying that any one person is garbage – just the data that comes into your sphere is garbage to your life.)
Are you allowing the very best thoughts into your life?
What are you telling yourself each day? Is it that you aren’t as smart as the next person or that you’ll never be financially secure? Do you tell yourself that you are tried of struggling and that no one will ever love you? It’s so easy for that little voice in our heads to go through the whole negative loop of how we are Not Enough. Not smart enough. Not good enough. Not skinny enough. Not rich enough. Not beautiful enough. Not handsome enough. Not young enough. Not old enough. You Are More Than Good Enough Already. Stop with the self-limiting beliefs that are holding you back. Start allowing only healthy and empowering thoughts into your life. Garbage In = Garbage Out.
What other ways can you control the amount of garbage into your life?
What about reading only the best and most incredible books. If you watch TV, try only watching the most breathtaking and inspiring movies or TV shows. Start listening to the best quality music or audio files that you can find. Remember, Garbage In = Garbage Out.
What are you doing (or plan to do) in your life right now to control the garbage coming into your life? Share with us by leaving a comment. Thanks!
Related Posts:
1. Are Books Worth The Money?
2. Book Review: Crush It: Why Now Is The Time to Cash In On Your Passion
3. Book Review: 100 Ways To Improve Your Life
4. Just For Today Challenge, Day 25: Turn Off the Negativity
5. Are You Being Your True Authentic Self?
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{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
This is incredibly important Karen! I am currently changing my diet (to a much healthier one) and we have absolutely no junk food in the house (no chips, lollies, chocolates etc) and it is killing me! When you are so used to putting garbage into your life, you realise that you start craving it. And while the thought of craving garbage thoughts or garbage people – if that is what we are used to feeding ourselves, it will not be an easy journey to try to make the transition to healthy.
But it is well worth it!
Tom | Build That List´s last blog ..The 4 Reasons People Unsubscribe Mailing Lists
Hi Tom,
It’s really important that you are feeding your body and mind healthy food and not garbage. Glad that you are on the right track. I love junk food, too and have drastically cut down on the unhealthy food in my house. You’re right, it will not get easier the longer we are feeding garbage into our life. So start now.
Thanks for sharing,
Karen
Karen,
It’s a long time since I’ve heard that phrase; it brought back many memories.
I like tha analogies you have used; linking GIGO to a number of different aspects of our lives. A great idea and very pertinent. It’s important to check the infromation we are receiving; however it’s also just as important to check out the people we mix with, thoughts we are having and the food we eat.
A great post; thanks for sharing it.
Regards
Paul
Paul´s last blog ..Rocky Road
Hi Paul,
I know that it’s an old saying but I thought it was appropriate in this case. That’s great that it struck a chord in you.
Glad that you liked it and I hope you find it useful.
Karen
Hi Karen,
It’s probably all about moderation. Too much chocolate will make you fat but a little can release endorphines and make my day 
I had to smile when I read this title because it reminded me of the conversation we had about peer groups in the post referenced above. Great reminder. It can be very tempting to put garbage food in whilst watching garbage TV
Thank you again,
Eleanor
Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..Legislation for a weapon? You can help!
Hi Eleanor,
I know what you mean, I’m a chocolaholic and love chocolate, but I’ve realized that it will still be there tomorrow – I don’t have to eat it every day. Yes, it takes good and it makes me feel good while eating it, but it’s still unhealthy if you eat too much. Everything in moderation, I suppose.
I agree, it’s so easy to just shovel garbage food in while watching garbage TV – I guess we should be more mindful in what we are doing.
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.
Karen
Reading that acronym reminds me of old days at school where the teacher (unsuccessfully) tried to teach us something or the other about computers… the acronym is the only thing I remember from that lesson.
I recently took a look at various parts of my life and decided to change a few things – diet and exercise was one of them, and it’s definitely made a difference. Like Tom, I’ve practically cut down on all junk food – although like Eleanor I believe a little chocolate never did anyone any harm.
Jason @ Make Money At Home´s last blog ..How I Plan To Take This Blog To 10,000 Subscribers
Hi Jason,
There seems to be something in the water with everyone making the changes to lead a more healthy lifestyle. That’s great that you have adopted this as well.
That’s too funny that the only thing you remember from computer class is GIGO. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
I agree, a little bit of chocolate never did anyone any harm.
Thanks for sharing,
Karen
Thanks Karen, I definately needed this one this week! Too true. But hoe do you make these changes without the feelings of guilt and responsibility to others that rely on you?
Welcome Krista,
When people rely on you, it’s doubly important to make sure that you are providing them with the very best that you can, whether this is food, information, influence, idea etc. Why wouldn’t you share your knowledge regarding healthy alternatives with those that rely on you? Isn’t it your duty?
I don’t believe in guilt. It can be a cop-out for many to take the easy way out and an excuse not to change. We all do the best we can with what we have and know. Once you know better, you do better. To yourself and to others. Take it one step at a time and see if you can start replacing garbage with a more healthy alternative. You never know, people may surprise you once they know that you have their best interests at heart.
Thanks for stopping by and contributing.
Karen
I think the two I struggle with most there are the food and people ones. Food because, well, I like chocolate and ice cream too much (been trying to cut back, and I guess I’ve managed to a point, though I still eat Waaaaay more than I would like). People… mostly that’s a result of poor choices of character a while ago that I’m still trying to ‘prune’ (for want of a nicer word).
Sadly it’s not always easy leaving people behind as you grow (or even if you Want to grow for that matter) but sometimes it just has to be done.
At the moment I’m working more on the people one; I’ve time to phase out the chocolate and ice cream I think. Enjoyed the post though, very thought provoking Karen.
Heather´s last blog ..I’m jumping on the Bandwagon…
Hi Heather,
I think that you’ll find that once school is finished, your exposure to certain people will lessen as people go their own ways.
Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time, as you say to phase out the chocolate and ice cream. Enjoy it while you can
Thanks,
Karen
Yea I guess that’s true too, I was referring more to the people I know outwith college but some of them I do see there as well. Honestly I think the coup de gras will be when I leave the country for Canada in a few years!
As for enjoying…. check
Heather´s last blog ..I’m jumping on the Bandwagon…
Hey Heather, you’ll have to look me up when you get to Canada. That’s an exciting move
Definitely
It’ll be fun!
Heather´s last blog ..Video Tutorial: Glow Maps
This is a good post, Karen, and really makes you think.
I feel that if it’s negativity in my life and it’s not something I can get rid of to at least distance myself from it for as long as I’m around it and keep explaining to myself that this too will pass.
I love reading books and try to read only what looks good to me. A lot of books are great but some may not be so great and it’s hard to pick out the books that aren’t great if you have yet to read them. Again, asking those who also like books and have read them is a good way of taking care of this problem.
What do you think about this as far as anything in life?
Eric´s last blog ..Build Your Blog With Fire In Mind
Hi Eric,
I agree. Distancing yourself either physically or mentally from the negativity will help you be more objective and to also lessen the impact on your life.
One way to combat knowing what’s good or not, is to ask people whom you trust for their recommendations. Also, read reviews and talk to people who have already read or done what you’re thinking of. I don’t think there’s anything better than sitting down and escaping into a great book – one that really takes you away.
I’m a firm believer in allowing other people to make mistakes so that I can learn from them.
“This too shall pass” is one of my mottos. It’s very true that nothing lasts forever.
Thanks for sharing.
Karen
Karen,
Yes letting others go through something and make mistakes is a good way to learn what should have been done yourself.
This too shall pass is great because it is true that nothing lasts forever. Well, change lasts forever but that’s part of growing within yourself.
Thanks for the reply.
Eric´s last blog ..Build Your Blog With Fire In Mind
I admit that I sometimes mistake garbage for good information when it comes to the Internet and similar media. This post made me realize that we all need to be very careful in reading and believing the materials we find. There is so much stuff out there that is cloaked in good qualities but aren’t really worth our time.
Regarding the part about good music, I think that since I listen to metal most of the time, I asked myself if this kind of genre does bring in positivity in my life. but I realize that when it comes to music, it’s really how you would interpret the melody and words you’d listen to. Although what I like may be considered by some as angry and loud, if it gets me going through the day, then for me, it must be doing something good.
Julius´s last blog ..A Day Through The Eyes of a Blind Woman: Part 3
Hi Julius,
I must admit that I’m in the same boat – I can be pretty naive when I read things on the internet (and buy way too much crap) but I’ve come to the realization that I need to think more critically (less emotionally) when surfing. Or, maybe I am more familiar with the marketing hype surrounding the crap and don’t fall for it as easily as before?
If the music makes you feel good, then that’s good enough. There’s no need to control every single aspect of your life, but just to become more aware of what can influence our lives. There’s so much that we are unaware of and it’s important to have the best stuff influence us, not the garbage.
I agree – if it gets you through the day, then it’s done it’s job. Although, there’s no accounting for taste
Thanks,
Karen
Thanks for your response, Karen. I realize that I have a lot to learn particularly in being familiar with marketing hype being built around commercial crap. I’m glad to say that this post is one of the things that helps me get started.
Julius´s last blog ..A Day Through The Eyes of a Blind Woman: Part 3
Great post Karen!!
The GIGO idea is perfectly suited to those of us trying to improve our lives.
Media can be a massive source of garbage, just looking through all of the programmes on your TV subscription will tell you that. There’s so much mindless media out there. News outlets can be particularly bad at this, trying to create celebrity stories out of nothing. It doesn’t do anything for the reader/viewer apart from rot their brain.
I think the toughest part of hanging around with garbage people is that sometime they are friends who you still want to be around. The problem with their “garbage” mentality is that it’ll seep in to your subconscious a drag you down. The trick is removing yourself for the influence of their garbage but still retaining the friendship.
Inspiring post Karen – thank you so much
Hi Ben,
I’m happy that you found the article inspiring and I agree that we are bombard with too much from the meda. We should go on a media starvation diet
Yes, that can be particularly tough with some friends. Maybe I should have said that to limit the amount of time and the number of ‘garbage’ friends that you have. If that’s all you hang around with, then you’re right, it will be very hard to not be affected. But, if you have a large group of friends and the majority are positive and are striving for something in life, then the impact of one or two other friends who are not growing, will be less.
I should also say that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with people being static in their lives, if they are happy with that. If you are not happy with your circumstances, then chances are you are being influenced a great deal by your peers and examining their impact on your and your beliefs would be a productive first step in changing your life for the better.
Thanks for bringing up that point, Ben.
Karen
Great post, Karen. I’m making a choice to feed by body healthier foods (ate out a lot!) and to exercise during the week.
I’m having my ups and downs, and it seems to be somewhat of a struggle (esp. if you don’t see results right away), but it’s peaceful knowing that I’m at least trying.
GIGO reminded me of lists and data structs and FIFO (first in, first out) and so on, haha.
Moon Hussain´s last blog ..My Massive Passive Income Brain Dump: What Do You Think?
Hi Moon,
I know – all these acryomns can drive one crazy
I remember learning about FIFO and GIGO, too.
That’s great that you are learning to feed your mind and body with healthy food. It’s too bad that it’s such a struggle to see the results though. I always keep in mind, that things may not be obvious at first, but there are changes taking place underneath. Sometimes we are too close to see the changes, but they are there.
Good luck with your exercises.
Karen
I used to let a lot of negative thoughts in, then I started to realise that by limiting what I read, and even what I write, I could become a more positive person. I honestly went from being pretty negative to pretty positive over a few months of doing this.
But in the other areas, I haven’t been so successful. Especially on the internet when I fill my time doing meaningless things, it doesn’t make for a productive day!
Ruth – Web Career Girl´s last blog ..Update on My February Niche Website Building Challenge
Hi Ruth,
Yes, it can be very distracting when you’re on the internet and spent a good many hours on it, only to realize that you’ve actually have not done one productive thing all day. Believe me, I know the feeling. I think it’s a matter of concentrating on those activities that will help you the most (e.g. writing good content, networking, researching new topics, etc) over the other ways (tweaking your design, commenting, tweeting, etc). Once you have the most important stuff done, then you can reward yourself with the not-so-important stuff
I find it very hard sometimes to not let the negative stuff in – we are constantly bombarded with negatvity throughout our day and it’s so hard to be positive. But, we have to try our hardest not to fall into the same trap that other people are in. If we’re not strengthening our positivity wall constantly, then we don’t deserve all the good things in life and we won’t go after our dreams.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing.
Karen
Karen
This is a great post. Garbage in Garbage Out is so true. We are all influenced by what we read, see, hear and eat. We are also as you point out influenced by our associates.
The evidence for this is overwhelming. I am sure we all know people who were good kids and then got into ‘bad company’ as it is called and ended up becoming a very different person.
It is vital we take care to choose the right kind of friends and choose carefully what read, listen to watch and so forth.
I a glad to have found your blog and will bookmark it!
Best wishes
Roland
Roland´s last blog ..Why Commenting is Good
Welcome Roland,
You’re right, I think we all know people who got caught up with the wrong crowd and were influenced by that association. It’s not too late though, if one really wants to change their situation. It does take courage to want something better out of life though.
I’m glad that you liked the article.
Thanks for stopping by,
Karen
I agree with Ben. There is so much garbage out there. Whether it takes the form of food or information.
The difficulty most people have though is identifying what is junk from what isn’t junk, sometimes you only know this when you’ve tried it (and bought it probably!)
Matthew Needham´s last blog ..The secrets of becoming rich
Hahaha, Matthew – that’s so right, it’s not until after we bought it, do we find out that it’s garbage. I certainly know how that feels! Which is why I think we all need to be more critical when succumbing to the marketing hype (esp. when buying on the internet).
Thanks,
Karen
I have never heard of GIGO before this, but I love how you have related the computer concept to our every day lives. I can relate to this in two of the ways you have described. My roommate is someone who obviously in my life but being around him I notice the negativity and how it brings me down (garbage). I have lived with him for almost three years and at first, we hung out a lot, but I began to separate because of how I was negatively affected. The other way was with tv and how I would watch law and order every once and a while — what a garbage show! It always makes you feel like crap at the end, wondering what the hell?! In essence, this post makes so much sense for me. Really enjoyed reading!
Alex Monroe´s last blog ..Success is Only a Book Away
Hi Alex,
Hey, that’s wonderful that I was able to introduce you to a new term, then. It’s been around as along as computers have
I see that you’ve already learned the GIGO lesson with your roommate. I’m sure that it must have not been easy to limit the exposure when you live in close quarters with someone. Good for you for making the hard choice.
I’m happy that you enjoyed reading it. Thank you!
Karen
Excellent article, Karen.
The title caught my eye (former programmer as well) and I immediately thought of time gone by.
This is a great analogy though, and it’s absolutely true. Surrounding yourself with negative people, eating all the wrong stuff, etc., it shows up in your lifestyle. Want to go places in life, get with others that are going places. This all seems so simplistic, but it is advice that is ignored by many for years.
I enjoyed the article.
Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Become Legendary – Become Who You Know You Are
Hi Jimi,
Hey, I really like that –> “Want to go places in life, get with others that are going places”. Great advice! I guess if you just want to stay where you are, then you can be stuck with like-minded people.
I’m really glad that you enjoyed the article.
Karen
I allowed alot of garbage in my life in the last 5 years and have come to realize it is with that garbage we grow and learn how to really live and love ourselves. Without those lessons we still be hauling in all that garbage and never really understand or weed out what we don’t need. Great Post. Thanks
Hi Butterfly,
Well, maybe a certain amount of garbage can be beneficial, but too much can actually stunt our growth, particularly if that’s all you’re allowing into your life. You’re right that we need to see the bad and the good in order to distinguish between the two. But, once we know the difference, it’s up to us to make sure that more good stuff than bad garbage influences us.
Thanks,
Karen
I haven’t heard of GIGO but FIFO – first in, first out.
In terms of process, garbage would be more specific in grounds of filtering. Human nature doesn’t do a very good job so while we’re tangled in the webs of design everyday, throwing out the garbage that makes our life miserable can be quite a journey, in fact, it’s time-consuming.
So I liked that technology teaches us one thing – keep it simple. Stick to the task at hand and process it until you get the answer. If that’s not the one your want, process another. Life pretty much is like a computer program then isn’t it? The only thing is we’re constantly debugging it without closing the last string.
Thu Nguyen´s last blog ..How I Reviewed- Rewrote and Revived My Ideas to Keep Hope Alive in Times of Blogging Slumps
Hi Thu,
Thanks so much for adding your thoughts and experiences – it really adds to the conversation regarding the impact of allowing ‘garbage’ into our lives.
Karen
Hi Karen,
I got to reading this post because of your #7Links post! It has really spoken to me today as I’ve had a week of people intervening into my time and space in ways that have been less than healthy. Having gotten angry about it because of its impact on my productivity, I’ve now ring fenced myself better. But the interference meant that for a couple of days I wasn’t performing at my best.
Thanks for this reinforcement!
Hi Christine,
I’m sorry that people were intervening negatively in your life, but now that you have more control over what you allow (and don’t allow) in, you have clearly defined your borders. That’s great and it’s a lesson that bears repeating – we have the power to stop others from affecting us and giving away our power. No one wants to be full of ‘garbage’ and we all have within ourselves the ability to say “No more garbage will enter my life”.
Thanks for stopping by,
Karen
Karen,
Found this through your #7links challenge – love the post, great analogy. Reminds me of something I heard from a person in recovery – first he had to clean out the garbage of his past life (lots of work!!), then, when he had a nice clean can, life could happen, difficult things, and he had a lot of space in which to have his feelings and reactions and deal with them, without a lot of garbage getting in his way. I have always liked the metaphor and have worked hard myself to clear out my own past rubbish so I have more capacity to be in my life and experience it in the moment. Also read an interesting book lately called “Why Don’t I do the Things I know are Good for me?” by BJ Gallagher and it helped me figure out some of the reasons why I still go for garbage when I know it’s not good for me! Thanks for sharing this post again.
Best,
Linda
Hi Linda,
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and the book recommendation. I haven’t heard of that book before and it does sound very useful.
I think that when we want to make a change in our lives, we have to get rid of the old stuff to make room for the new stuff. I do believe that the universe doesn’t like a vacuum so if you get rid of something, you should replace it with something better. An examination of what is actually harming you (garbage) is a great start and then you should replace that with something that lifts you up or is more positive in your life (no matter what it is).
It takes a lot of work to get rid of all the garbage in your life and start from a clean slate. I wish your friend well.
Thanks,
Karen
Hi Karen, I agree with you about the food – you are what you eat after all.
I have been going through a period of purging toxic people from my life which is painful, but I’ve decided this will give me more time to spend with old friends I don’t see as much. My husband and I have also decided to focus on meeting new interesting people.
I have been working on transforming the negative thoughts because I think they is the biggest obstacle to making a change. I think we tend to be our own worst critic, I know it’s true of me.
Jennifer Barry´s last blog ..Live Richly Round-Up 3
Hi Jennifer.
It’s great that both you and your husband have decided to purge toxic people so that you will have room in your life for your best friends and the new interesting people that will come into your life.
I agree that we are our own worst critic. it takes a lot of yelling to tell that voice to STFU and just get on with your life without its constant distraction. You have to be stronger than the voice.
Thanks for stopping by,
Karen