Injected Ideals: The Malware of the Mind

Have you ever had an intrusive thought or belief from when you were younger that you later realized was completely based on a false premise? Maybe at the time it felt like your own idea, but looking back now, you can tell it was planted — maybe by advertising, movies, or just cultural noise. And even though you now know it was never truly yours, you still catch yourself following it, almost like you're running on autopilot, as if someone slipped a line of code into your brain and hit "execute." 


Examples of what I mean:

1) The belief that success means owning a luxury car and a massive house. It’s the classic dream sold in every commercial — even if you'd be perfectly happy in a cozy apartment with a decent Wi-Fi connection and no HOA.

2) “If I wear the right deodorant, I will become instantly irresistible to everyone around me.” Thank you, Axe commercials, for convincing 12-year-old me that body spray was a form of mind control.

3) “If I’m not constantly productive, I’m wasting my life and I’m a failure.” This one sneaks in under the radar, wearing a “grindset” T-shirt. It’s sold as ambition, but it slowly eats your peace of mind from the inside out.