Each season of our lives brings with it new paths to follow and new mountains to climb. Every one of life’s seasons is full of good times and bad. And with its many ups and downs, two different types of people emerge; those who focus on the bad and those who focus on the good. We all know people who fit into those two categories and even you likely identify with one category more than the other.
You’ve probably seen the picture below before. Just like some people focus on the good in life and some focus on the bad; some people see a beautiful young woman and some see a wrinkled old lady. What you see is what you focus on.
We all know (and have heard it said time and time again) that focusing on the good things that happen in life is healthier than focusing on the bad. The fact is that focus alone isn’t the only key to making each season of your life better than the last. We all lose focus and it, all by itself, cannot propel us forward. You can be one of two people… the person who gives up or the person who gets up. With the right focus and positive attitude, action is what will change your life.
Focusing on the negative things that happen in our lives makes us give up. We can’t move forward when we’re bogged down with anger, resentment, fear and sadness. Those mindsets are stagnant mindsets. They keep us right where we are. No good can come from them; no positive growth can be found through them. People who give up and give in to the sorrows of life are more prone to depression, physical pain and even suicide. No wonder those who focus on the negative can’t move forward. They don’t believe there’s anything better out there! They can’t see the light and freedom at the end of the tunnel.
I can tell you from personal experience that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve suffered through my own bouts of depression. I know the pain. I know the despair. I know the hopelessness. There is hope!
And those who focus on the positive? They’re not immune to life’s challenges. But they have a greater sense of freedom in the way that they live. They are people who don’t give up, but instead they get up. They move forward in life. They live in a state of gratitude. When depression comes knocking they have the focus to keep it from creeping back into their lives. When life is disappointing they have the tools to turn it around. Not only are they focused, they also take action.
So, because focus alone cannot change your mindset (at least not permanently and not for the long term), you must take action. Teaching yourself to be a more positive person won’t make a difference in your life until you have opportunities to use your new state of mind.
I beg you. Don’t stay in a negative mindset. It’s a deep bottomless pit and it will not disappear by itself. Take action.
You can connect with me on Facebook, and I will be your encourager and cheerleader. Studies have found that 90% of those who fail are not actually defeated, they just quit. Don’t let that happen to you.
#smallsteps
Never give up, always get up.
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