H. Jackson Brown Jr. once wrote, “Your mind can only hold one thought at a
time, make it a positive and constructive one.” As simple as these words
may seem, they are in fact, very true. You see, if you are looking for a
way to feel better at any given moment, all you have to do is change what
you are focusing on. Your brain is a very powerful tool that you own and
you should use to your advantage.
When was the last time you were reminiscing about a great time in your
life and it made you feel terrible? When was the last time you were
thinking about a painful event in your life and it made you feel good?
I’d venture to say you answered ‘never’ to both of these questions.
That’s because what you focus on in life is what you get! Would you be
willing to agree that Mother Teresa felt a great deal of love in her life
because love was her main focus in life?
Understanding this, next time you find yourself in a less than desirable
situation, be sure to find the positive side of it and focus your
attention on that. Not only will you feel better about the situation but
also you will actually be in a better frame of mind to work through it.
With this mindset you will find yourself focusing on the solution rather
than the problem.
The best way to control your focus is to ask yourself good questions.
Such as, “What can I find that is good in this situation?” “What have I
learned from this that will make me more successful the next time?” “How
can I make this situation better?” By asking yourself effective
questions, you will force your brain to look for and find a solution for
what you can do to solve a problem and how you can make a situation better.
On the other hand, if you ask yourself self-defeating questions such as,
“Why does this always happen to me?” “Why can’t I have that?” “What did
I do to deserve this?” Your brain will look for those exact answers and
tell you why bad things happen to you, why you can’t have something and
why you deserve something bad. Do you see what is happening here? You
are confirming to yourself why you don’t deserve something and why bad
things happen to you. Now it’s one thing when someone else tells you
something like that, but when you tell it to yourself, you are sure to
believe it! I guarantee you will always believe yourself on a
subconscious level if not on a conscious level. In other words, be
careful what you ask for!
“Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find; Knock, and it will be
opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7
So practice focusing on positive thoughts and learn to ask yourself
effective questions that will lead to constructive answers. If you look
hard enough, there will always be a positive side to every situation. And
for the challenges you must face in life, focus on the solution, not the
problem. If you focus on the problem at hand, you will never find the
solution. Focus on your dreams and they will become a reality. Ask
yourself “How can I reach my dream?” Don’t be surprised when your brain
gives you the answer!
- Glen Hopkins
This article may be reprinted with the following attachment:
Copyright (c) 1999 Glen Hopkins
Glen Hopkins, owns Motivational-Messages.com, your Free
resource for daily motivation and inspiration, including quotes,
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About the Author
Glen Hopkins, owns Motivational-Messages.com, your Free
resource for daily motivation and inspiration, including quotes,
tips, and stories to help you lead a successful life. Visit http://www.motivational-messages.com today!