Maintaining a positive focus is good for us and good for the people around us. A positive focus can help us maintain possibility thinking that creates options where there were none before. It also helps keep us from tumbling down the rabbit hole of negativity.
Negative messages abound all around us. That’s why I don’t watch the news (which I think would more appropriately be called “the bad news.”) That’s also why I limit my exposure to certain people. Taking on other people’s negativity really takes a toll. So how can we maintain a positive focus as we go throughout our day?
In the Bible, Paul gives some good advice on what to focus on (Philippians 4:8). He encourages us to think about things that are:
- True
- Noble
- Right
- Pure
- Lovely
- Admirable
- Excellent
- Praiseworthy
OK, we don’t usually even talk about stuff like this. Really, when was the last time your friend told you about something someone did that was noble? That’s just not where most people focus their attention.
I encourage you to think of a concrete example of something in your life that is each of those characteristics listed above. Building the capacity to maintain a positive focus is like building a muscle. It takes practice and repetition. It gets easier and more natural over time.
Name a truth you can count on.
When was the last time you did something noble?
Identify something that is right which you will take a stand for.
What does purity look like?
Take some time to really take in something that is lovely, such as art, or nature.
Think of someone you love. What has he or she done lately that is admirable.
In what area of your own life do you want to strive for excellence?
Who has done something worthy of praise? Go ahead and give him or her that praise.
It’s easy to blow through a list in a blog without really applying it—I’m guilty of it, too. If you don’t have the time to answer those questions now, set a reminder when you can do it. Training the brain to have a positive focus takes time and effort, but is really rewarding in the long run.
