I was at my mastermind retreat in California. Being that I live in New Jersey I found myself very awake and productive at 5:00 in the morning and went to the gym at 5:45.
After my workout, I was standing by the water cooler and looked out the window. There was a beautiful 
sunrise. One of the hotel attendants was next to me and I said, “Look at the beautiful sunrise.” She was courteous to me, but yet I could see in her eyes that she assumed that I wanted something from her or was complaining about something. I said, “Everything is okay, I just don’t want you to miss the good stuff.”
So often in our day-to-day lives we end up focused on the things that are not going well, on what we still have to do or more often, what we think we’ll never get around to doing. We spend our day beating ourselves up instead of paying attention to what is going right.
These past couple of months I’ve been in a bit of a rut. Sure things are going okay. I have great clients and I enjoy what I’m doing. Technically things were going well, yet I kept thinking about what wasn’t going well, the things I wasn’t doing or hadn’t summoned up my energy to do. In my own rut I lost sight of the all the wonderful things going on in my life…the beautiful sunrise that exists around me every day.
Some parts of my sunrise are personal. My daughter got into her first choice college early decision (she’s going to Lehigh University, it’s my alma mater!). My sons are growing up into beautiful, smart, sensitive young men. I have an incredibly supportive husband who will happily support me in any way that I need support and often knows what support I need before I do. Oh, and because I was up and at the gym early I ran two miles on the treadmill (I’m not much of a treadmill runner, that’s quite an accomplishment for me!)
Beyond that my business is doing great. My revenues were up over 110% from 2010. My clients are growing and doing things in their businesses and lives that are incredible. I am confident that the work I do brings my clients and other people that I interact with value.
By moving my focus from the things that weren’t doing exactly what I wanted them to do, to areas that were going well I put a smile on my face. That smile alone is enough to help me turn the rut around.
What you focus on is well…what you focus on. You get to choose. Will you focus on the sunrise and the good that surrounds you or on the problems? Choose the good and the problems become much smaller in comparison and are much easier to manage.
I’m not sure why it’s easy to forget the beauty and wonder around you. Why is it so easy to downplay all that you have accomplished on the road to where you are? We need to force ourselves to stop and take the good in. The attendant at the hotel was so focused on her job and what she had yet to do that when I spoke to her she assumed that something was wrong. I forced her to shift her focus to see the sunrise. It brightened my day, I hope it brightened hers too.
My suggestion for you is to take a moment and think. What is working well for you in your business and life? What things have you allowed yourself to gloss over or take for granted? What things have you accomplished that you’re not taking the time to acknowledge? Now that you know what’s going well, share your sunrises with me on my blog and use it as inspiration for your day.
Hello Carrie!
Good morning to you too!!! I resonated with the whole investment part when people sign up for something. I have had several people ask me about my recovery coaching fees and how they may be high or out of reach to most people seeking recovery from alcoholism and/or other drugs…but I always remind them of the value I bring to the person seeking my help and how it is an investment in life for them. Misery is optional…and certainly free. Heck, if we were to sit and compare numbers, just imagine the sufferer’s cost of drinking and drugging, not to mention the physical, mental and spiritual toll. Of course, when others inadvertently enable the sufferers by providing help to their livelihood or insurance companies picking up the obscenely high costs of rehab/treatment it leaves little room for them to sincerely and honestly commit to long-term recovery. So I agree with you in stressing it as an investment.
I also enjoyed reading through your feature article this morning. I got caught on the part about focus:
“By moving my focus from the things that weren’t doing exactly what I wanted them to do, to areas that were going well I put a smile on my face. That smile alone is enough to help me turn the rut around.
What you focus on is well…what you focus on. You get to choose. Will you focus on the sunrise and the good that surrounds you or on the problems? Choose the good and the problems become much smaller in comparison and are much easier to manage.”
It reminded me of Andy Andrews’ book “The Noticer.” He states that “whatever you focus upon, increases…if you set your mind on loss, you are more likely to lose…but a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person’s life.” So it’s right on point with what you shared. I also liked your Closing Thought for it reminds us, from the Book of James in the Bible, that “…faith without works is dead” (James 2: 14-26).
Again, thanks for your morning dose of truth and wisdom.
CAVU,
Hector “Z-Man” Zayas – “The Recovery Navigator”
Recovery Coach & Consultant
http://www.targetrecoverycoach.com
So glad that today’s ezine hit so many areas for you and thank you for letting me know!
Keep focusing on the good and invest in that and it will grow.
This NATIVE AMERICAN FOLK TALE has helped me remember what to focus on:
A grandfather explains to his grandson that he has two wolves inside him. One wolf fills him with hope and reminds him how wonderful his life is, and the other fills him with doubt and convinces him that nothing is worth the effort. The grandson asks, concerned for his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The grandfather replies, “Whichever one I feed.”
I am prone to depression & often catch myself “feeding” the wrong wolf (the thoughts of depression & ruminating on all the negatives in life). It is difficult to change your “natural” way of thinking but well worth the effort to stop, notice in what direction your thoughts are going (& thus where your mood will be going), & make a concerted effort to redirect your thoughts to more positive ones & to live more mindfully (in the now rather than ruminating on the past–which usually means on sad or negative events for me as had a chaotic & traumatic childhood w/mother’s suicide & father’s alcoholism; or looking into the future w/anxiety & fear rather than thinking about NOW & how wonderful it is to have my loving husband of 36 years & 2 grown children who are successful & happy individuals).