In this day and age, negativity surrounds us via so many channels of communication. It pervades the air.  Only as we center our attention on something more positive can we elevate ourselves above the din and strife.

Philippians 4:8 states: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Socrates stated: “Man must rise above the Earth…to the top of the atmosphere and beyond — for only thus will he understand the world in which he lives…”

Those are amazing thoughts from long ago! They are more applicable today than they have ever been.

In everyday life, just when you think you can see the future before you (Life is good. Everything is going well.), some incident occurs in a short period of time (or maybe even longer) and that future you were looking at and hoping for becomes not even a remote possibility.

What do you do then?

If you fall apart, things get worse. If you grit your teeth and just keep moving, your heart may not be in it. But who can spring forward under those circumstances?

It all depends upon your belief system, believe it or not.

If you do not have faith in the good side of life, one is forced to wallow in the negativity. How very sad. The ability to smile is most rare.

However, if you believe in the idea that Good Happens as well, it is a lot easier to pick yourself up and move on, maybe not immediately but sooner than later.

So I ask you: “Where is your attention? Do you want to stay stuck in whatever circumstances are present that are stifling your soul?”

Dr. Wayne Dyer stated, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

This world, with all of its broken dreams, is still beautiful, wondrous, and exciting.

Where you put your focus is all that matters. If you are looking behind you at what is lost, you cannot live very well in each day or see the path forward, with all its possibilities. How much more do you want to lose?

It is not what happens to you (facts) but how you react to the situation that will determine so much of what lies ahead.

Are you willing to wallow and stay where you are, weeping for that which is gone forever? Or do you want to grieve over the past appropriately, center your attention on today (the present), and look forward with faith that it will get better?

It’s all up to you.

An old song says, “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and don’t mess with Mr. In Between!”

God’s blessings upon your journey!