“FOCUS!  Breathe…ok, now PUUUUUUSH!”

“Focus on a small point in front of you and it will help your balance.”

“Focus in the distance and it helps keep you in the middle of the road.”

“Focus on your homework.”

Focus.  There are many areas of our lives that focus helps:  labor & delivery, exercise, driving, etc. How many times does our life turn into what we focus on?  When we focus on what we are thankful for, our lives turn to gratitude.  When we focus on grief , our lives stay mired in pain.  When we focus on the mess, we can’t see outside ourselves.  When we focus on who we aren’t, we miss out on seeing who we are.

What is your focus on? What situations or circumstances fill your vision so that you can’t see the life happening around you?  We’ve all been around those people that are always negative or only see the glass half full.  It makes us feel drained and frustrated.  We also know those people that energize us – those that find the good in everything and point it out to us – not in a Pollyanna-ish sort of way, but in a way that helps us to refocus on what we need to.

Which one are you?

I’m not saying we shouldn’t acknowledge the garbage in our lives.  Nope.  I’m all for acknowledging it.  Talking about it.  Unpacking it. But to stay there?  Nope.  Not that either.  We miss out on so much of life happening around us in the meantime.

I had a year of pain that I refused to move out of.  I wanted to stay in the pit and wallow there for a while.  As I look back, I regret that I didn’t allow those who love me to prod me out.  I regret the time I spent wondering about “What if?” instead of moving forward into what is.

Who are you?  Are you the draining, frustrating, negative person? Or do you speak encouragement, look for the good and drink in thankfulness?

“Finally, sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”  – Philippians 4:8

Focusing on The Whatevers….

Heather Smith