Did you notice that you tended to feel better when you focused on the positive things in
your surroundings? The process of focusing on the positive to produce more positive
feelings works the same with things even more intimate than your surroundings--your
body, for example.
If you look for all the things wrong with the body, boy, are you going to find them. Pains
here, bumps there, rough spots here, too much fat there--the list goes on and on (and, as
we get older, goes on and on and on and on).
But take a look at all that's right with your body. Even if you have a pain in your left foot,
you can be thankful there's not one in your right. How about all those processes we take
for granted? Digestion, circulation, respiration, assimilation, thinking-- yes, we think
without having to even think about it. And let's not forget the five senses. Some people
take them so much for granted they can't name all five without thinking, "Let's see, what's
the fifth one?"
It's as though there were two attorneys in your mind, one gathering evidence for "Life is
Awful" and the other gathering evidence for "Life is Wonderful." You're the judge and
can rule out any evidence you choose. Your decision is final. Which judicial ruling do
you suppose would lead to more joy, happiness, peace, ease, and health?
To focus on the positive is not to disregard certain warning signals of a negative nature
that, if ignored, eventually lead to inconveniences at best and disaster at worst. (If we use
these "negative" signals to avoid disaster, then they're not so negative after all. Some
even call them guardian angels.)
Let's say you're driving down the freeway and the little light goes on, telling you you're
running out of gas. I do not suggest ignoring that bit of "negativity" and focusing on how
wonderful it is that none of the other warning lights is on. I suggest you get some gas.
Here, by the way, is where negative thinking comes in. The negative reality is that you're
low on gas. Negative thinking begins the litany, "I wonder if I'm going to run out of gas
before I reach the next station. What will I do if that happens? I'm in the middle of
nowhere. What if some highway robbers get me? If I do get to a gas station, will it be the
kind I have credit cards for? I bet it will be more expensive than in town. I bet it will be
self-service and the pump will be dirty and my hands will smell funny after. I knew I
should have filled up in town. Why am I so lazy and stupid?" Etc., etc., etc.
During this inner tirade (which, for accomplished negative thinkers, takes place in under
five seconds) the driver, in his or her anxiety, usually speeds up, which only wastes gas.
We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life
may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders
when contemplating the possibilities of life on earth.
NORMAN COUSINS
What I suggest is this: take note of the negative information, decide what to do about it
(whatever corrective action seems to be in order) and return to focusing on the positive
(in this case the music, the scenery, the passengers) while working on eliminating the
negative.
With medical conditions, it's good to keep track of symptoms, but it does no good to
dwell on them. The positive thinker might deny the early symptoms of a disease, making
a cure more difficult. The negative thinker might turn every mosquito bite into a killer
bee sting.
Positive focusers take a middle road. They note symptoms accurately so they can be
reported to their health-care provider. They make an appointment. Beyond that, there's no
point in dwelling on the symptoms, so they turn their attention to things more positive.
While we're considering the idea that there is sufficient evidence in any given moment to
prove that life is wonderful or that life is terrible, let's take a look at how this works even
closer to home: in our memories of the past and our anticipation of the future.
Here, too, we can muddle in the negative: "Tommy wouldn't play with me when I was
six." "I have to go to the dentist next week, and I hate the dentist."
Or, we can do positive thinking: "I'm winning the Oscar this year," when we've never
been in a movie. "I'm going hiking and camping next week," when we've just had major
surgery. "I have so many wonderful friends," when the phone hasn't rung in two weeks.
Or, we could try focusing on the good memories that actually happened and on realistic
plans we look forward to with pleasure. "That movie on TV last night was so good."
"Helen's coming to visit tomorrow; that will be nice." "The book I ordered should be
arriving any day."
Yes, it's good to "live in the moment," but who does that all the time? As long as you're
living in memories of the past and projections of the future, you might as well make them
happy memories and joyful projections.