What do you choose to focus on in life?

Life is full of countless memories and moments, swinging from the positive and uplifting ones, to the negative, drag you into the dumpster types.

For some reason, it’s so easy to be drawn into recycling the negative thoughts again and again. Over the years I’ve found myself reliving bad moments, as if by doing so I could go back in time and fix or change them in some way.

I also think a part of you is looking for what went wrong, so something similar doesn’t happen again. It’s part of your protection mechanism.

That’s not so bad, it’s just when you keep rethinking it, getting caught in a painful cycle.

That only feeds the negative and keeps your feelings around it alive and well fed, which definitely isn’t good.

Every moment you have is a gift.

You really need to keep in mind, which moments you want to hold onto and build each of your days with. Choose memories that build you up, revitalize and nourish your soul.

Every day you have a choice. You can choose to focus on the negative, dragging yourself through the muck repeatedly.

Or you can choose to focus on the sweet moments instead.

It helps me to actually write down the things I appreciate now or even from the past.

Think about it. Even if you’re hyper focusing on something you don’t like right now, you do have a choice.

You can turn your attention onto something else more pleasant.

Here are some of the things I’ve come up with in the past.

1: Reading your favorite affirmation.

2: Taking a deep breath and filling your lungs to their deepest capacity, then slowly releasing. Ahhhhhh     love that one!

3: Looking at an old photo of your baby, who’s all grown up now.

4: Listening to some beautiful music. How does it make you feel? What memories come forward?

5: Saying and feeling the words, “I love you”, to someone close to you.

6: The smell of fresh cut grass.

7: My sweet pup laying her head on my lap.

8: A decadent piece of chocolate melting in your mouth.

9: A freshly washed and made bed.

10: ow about when you first get under those covers? How about when you first get under those covers?

11:  A text saying how much you’re valued.

12: The Smell of coffee in the morning, mmmmmm.

13: Waking to birds chirping outside.

14: A gentle breeze ruffling your hair.

15: Watching a toddler learning to walk.

16: Catching an afternoon nap.

17: A friend telling you they love you!

18: The smell of barbeque.

19: Anticipation of a long hot bath.

20: A smile… from anyone.

So now it’s your turn.

Right now choose to focus your attention on 5 things that make you happy and write them here.

1:____________________________________________________________________

2:____________________________________________________________________

3:____________________________________________________________________

4:____________________________________________________________________

5:____________________________________________________________________

Do you see how that can give you a nice lift?

Try making a habit of writing down the things you appreciate and watch your days shift in amazing ways.

After a while the positive starts to appear in your mind, without even needing to list them.

Now take a deep, easy breath and realize that yes, you can focus on the good in life.

It’s around you all the time,  just choose to focus on it.