It is a strange phenomenon with human beings that we tend to instinctively think more about things that are wrong than we do about things that are right. We give more attention to the problems at work, or at home, or in our family, or in society, etc., than we give to the multitude of things that go right. I stand at the head of the line on this.
The news is full of what is wrong in the world. It tells us mostly about problems, people who say or do bad things and how others are not living up to expectations. At least from the news agency’s perspective. They are also telling us what is wrong, based on their adjenda.
If you take a step back when you watch comedy, you will find most of it is about things that have gone wrong, either in the comic’s life, in society, with a public figure or with a particular group of people. So even when we are seeking entertainment, we often seek out negativity.
Most of the input into our minds is negative and based on what’s wrong. It’s no wonder that we end up spending a lot of time and energy thinking about what’s wrong, talking about what’s wrong and focusing on what’s wrong. Our fallen, sinful nature has created this desire for the negative. One of the devil’s most successful tools is to get humans to focus on the problems around them and thereby cause people to take their eyes off God and not seek him.
Tomorrow, conduct an experiment. Take a step back from the conversations that are going on around you and simply observe and listen to what is being said. When you take yourself out of the conversation and hear what people are saying, I think you will be surprised at what you hear.
Ask yourself some questions about your day today…
Did you wake up?
Did you wake up in time to get where you were supposed to go in time?
Was your residence still standing when you woke up?
Did you have a safe place to sleep?
Was there water from your faucets?
Was the electricity on?
Did you have clothes to wear?
Was there food for you to eat if you wanted?
Did you leave your residence with keys in hand or did you lock them inside?
Did your vehicle start?
Did you get car-jacked on the way to where you were going?
Did you get into an accident?
Did you get a ticket?
Did you have enough fuel to get there?
If you were going to work, did your boss let you work? Did you get to keep your job today?
All of these blessings occurred to most of us within the first hour or two of today. Continue thinking about your whole day. I bet there’s a huge list of things that went right for you today.
Now think about what went wrong today. Sure, there probably were some things that went wrong, or at least not the way you had hoped. What’s the ratio of what went right compared to what went wrong? What’s the percentage? Ninety percent right? Ninety-five percent right? Maybe, really, ninety-nine percent of the things in your life go right.
We forget to think about these things. We take them for granted. Instead, we focus and think about the few things that go wrong. And most of the time, what went wrong wasn’t that big of a problem. You handle it and move on – right?
We even think about what MAY happen and think something is going to go wrong. Whatever it is, hasn’t even happened yet. It may never occur at all. Yet, we borrow from our imagination of the future and focus on what might go wrong.
Today, I challenge myself and challenge you to count your blessings, to think and focus on what goes right and to stop giving so much attention to what may-or-may-not go wrong.
Focusing on good things will also help us become better at communicating. Always whining and complaining or just being a “sour-puss” will cause others to not want to be with you or talk with you. Because we are surrounded by all this negative input, people are drawn to others who are positive. Folks feel good being around those who focus on what is good and right.
Pursue Great! In all you do. Including your thinking!