It’s amazing to me how hard we are on ourselves, almost to the point of being overly critical. I am not saying to not have standards, but at times it seems that we often give our family and friends more latitude than we do ourselves. It’s as if finding what’s wrong has become our new set point and if we look for what’s right we are labeled as being optimistic or esoterically “positive”. What’s wrong with celebrating life? Well for starters, if you are looking for what’s wrong with celebrating, you will surely find it. What happens when you find what’s wrong in your life, do you feel accomplished that you figured it out? Do you feel good inside that you know what’s wrong in your life? Are you now inspired to live with passion? I am not sure what your answer is, but I know that if I am focusing on what’s wrong, it doesn’t leave me feeling very good, it put’s me in a funk. Why on earth would I focus on whats wrong if it makes me feel bad?
Which leads me to turning around the initial question. What’s right with celebrating life? Changing one word in that question can alter which direction you go in or it can show you a new path completely. Changing that one word can shift your focus entirely. Questions are very powerful and if we are consistently asking ourselves what’s wrong in our life, there is no doubt we will find it.
It works the same way with all questions though, if we ask ourself something, we will answer it. So what if we were to ask ourself what is RIGHT in life? You may initially say nothing, but that’s just because you have conditioned yourself for so long to find what’s wrong. If you find it difficult to notice what’s right in your life because you see all the challenges, then start with someone else. Maybe you have a friend, family member or co-worker that seems to complain consistently about their problems or what’s wrong. Do you know someone like that? Do you have them in mind? Ok, great. Now, this might be easier for you than it is them, but are you able to see all that’s good in their life? Maybe you begin to notice the small things that you would normally over look. It’s best that you do this without judgement, that is to say, don’t start making them wrong for focusing on their problems. You don’t even have to share what you notice, unless it calls you to. If you do decide to share with them what you think is great in their life, be prepared that they may push back against what you are saying because they are intently focused on what’s wrong in their life.
This can be a great way for you to build that muscle, to condition yourself to answer the question, what is right in your life? You can do this with anything really. For example, if you wake up and it is pouring rain, notice what your first reaction is. Do you have a tendency to see the rain as a problem, as being wrong or ruining your day? Next time it rains, ask the question, what is right here? Maybe you will begin to notice that you don’t have to go out and water the flowers in your garden, or that you can get a free car wash or how about it will fill the reservoirs and be turned into drinking water.
You can do this with anything. The more you do this, the stronger that muscle will become, that way when you ask yourself the question, what is right in your life? you can answer it!
Find your truth.
