What we focus on has an enormous influence over our experience of life. And often we get into focusing on all the problems. We talk about how bad is the economy, how horrible is ISIS, and Ebola is going to eat our children. While these things are horrible, it doesn’t have to be the focus of our attention. It’s much better to focus on solutions, not the problems.
Problem Focus
Think about this. We wake up to the news on the radio which talks about the latest crisis taking place. Then we go to work, and our co-workers ask if we heard that the latest epidemic is now affecting Texas. Then we go out to dinner and hear someone talk about how the president is mishandling everything. Then we watch some news on TV which explains that things are now worse than they were yesterday.
So let’s ask some questions. If this was our day, how do we feel? If this is how we experience our week, how hopeful do we feel about our future? Do we feel empowered to make life better in some way?
We probably feel pretty crappy about how things are going. We feel hopeless about the future. And we feel powerless over the situation. We start think, “It’s not good, and that’s just the way it is.” Blah!
Solution Focus
What if instead we focused on solutions? Maybe after we put our mind to it, we can see opportunities in the current economy. Maybe we decide that we can brighten someone’s day today. Maybe we can take some time to stop a suicide, save a marriage, or help someone see their work in a new light.
There are lots of solutions to problems out there. So, maybe in the morning we wake up listening to positive radio, or to our favorite podcast (empowering ourselves to be the change). Then we go to work and talk to our coworkers about the podcast and how it’s helpful (spreading the change to others). Then we go to dinner and tell the waitress that she has a great smile (we made her day easier). We come home and spend time with the family instead of watching TV (we invest in our family).
Now, if this was our day, how do we feel? If this was our week, how would we feel about the future? Do we feel empowered? Which type of week would support us in discovering and living our calling?
Instead of spreading news of the problem everywhere, we can chose to be the change in other people’s lives.
So, tell us, what’s your favorite thing that you do that really builds and fills you up?
