If you feel unsettled, stuck or out of alignment, chances are that your point of focus is off. Energy and thought focused in the “wrong” direction will create more unhappiness than need be. When I say “point of focus” I’m referring to the specific topics that we spend our time and energy thinking, worrying and ruminating about. The good news is that our point of focus can be changed. We can learn tools and skills to create a happy headspace. The trick is to become aware and intentional about what we think about.

Our current life situation is a result of all the thoughts that we’ve had, both past and present, up until this present moment. Take a moment to reflect on where your heads been recently. What were you thinking about this morning? What’s currently on your mind? Not sure? Then connect with how you feel right now. Do you feel good? Calm? Anxious? Whatever you’re feeling currently is a product of what you’ve been thinking about.

Some of us have created a habit of living in a state where we consistently focus on what we perceive to be “wrong” with our life circumstances. (For the record, whenever we’re looking for a problem, we’ll find one.) For the purpose of this post, I’m referring to an over focus on what we can’t control, which sends us in a worried and fear based state. When we’re chronically focused on “what’s not going right” we will constantly feel stressed and, inevitably, depressed.

If you notice that you tend to spend a lot of your time thinking about “what’s wrong,” what would it mean for you to intentionally switch your focus toward what’s going right?

I’m not asking you to “ignore” problems. I understand that problems need attention at times in order to be resolved in a healthy way. However, after you’ve done what you can do with any issue in your life, there’s a point where acceptance of what IS and letting go is what will lead you to more peace and productivity within your life.

There tends to be an invisible “expiration date” with many things in life; relationships, jobs, environments, habits, etc, and when we stay past that expiration date, we begin to chip away at our sense of self and, ultimately, what’s best for us on a grand scale. Be mindful of this “deadline” when it comes to your point of focus. When is when? Meaning, when does thinking about a certain issue become “overkill” and lead you to feel more fear, worry and unhappiness then you need to experience? When you spend too much time turning the same issue around and around in your head, it’s just a matter of time where you will loose perspective and clarity on the issue. Begin to pay attention and learn the signs and symptoms that present for you when you’re overly focused on something that you can’t control.

With all that said, what would it mean for you to switch your focus toward what IS going right while accepting that imperfect events and situations are apart of life? We will all face specific hardships and problems. Nobody escapes this aspect of life. Becoming more accepting of the issues that will come and go within our lives will improve and increase our overall satisfaction and happiness level.

Let me add this tid bit in for clarity purposes: I’m not discounting that there’s issues in life. Hard issues. This is true. However, looking at what is also going “right,” especially when the difficult material presents, will greatly help you get through the challenging stuff.

Wonder if we spent our time thinking about what we do want in our life instead of what we don’t want? What you think about grows. It expands and melts into everything going on around you. You will allow the space for more fulfilling opportunities to come in by focusing on positive possibilities and good feelings. This is a practice. It’s not so much “luck” that you think others have over you when good things keep coming their way. What’s happening for those “others” is that they’re spending more time thinking and projecting good things for their future vs. focusing on the negative.

It’s always important to evaluate how we’re spending our time on both a physical and mental level. Here are some questions to help you gain more clarity around your point of focus.

Questions for Journaling & Reflection

What are you spending your time thinking about? How do you feel when you think about this particular topic(s)?

Is there an issue that you find yourself chronically fixated on and ruminating about? What is it? Write about your feelings on this issue?

Can you find acceptance for what you can’t control? How does it feel to think about that concept? Can you intentionally decide to let go of your negative focus? What would you think about if you didn’t think about “the problem?”

Cheers All. I appreciate you being here and reading. For more perspectives on a variety of wellness topics, come visit me on my YOUTUBE channel HERE.

*Above image by Photographer & Creator of honeyandgarden, Renata Amazonas.

Blog | Licensed Therapist | Self Discovery | North County San Diego, CA