Focus On the Positives

Have you ever noticed that, for some reason, we focus way more on the negatives than the positives? This is an image that I've seen a few different times, and it always impacts me the same way.



That's me. I've been there. Often.

We focus on the traffic lights that turn red instead as we approach them instead of cheering for the lights that turn green or are green during our trip.

We grumble about the long line at the grocery store, but we don't cheer when the cashier opens their register and asks if they can help us.

We become impatient when we have to wait on hold, but we don't cheer when somebody answers our call almost immediately.

We get annoyed when the dogs stay out and putz around when we're in a hurry, but we don't cheer them on as much as we should when they come right away when we call.

We are sad when one person forgets our birthday, even when 175 others take the time out of their day to acknowledge us.

We make our kids spend extra time on things they don't do well at, like reading, instead of letting them participate in activities like band or orchestra where they excel.

At some point we need to start cheering for the good things, no matter how small.

At some point we need to be thankful for all that we have that is good.

At some point we need to focus on kids' (and adults') strengths and not on their weaknesses.

At some point we need to focus on the positives because those are all of the good things that make life special.