Livevine

If you are looking to change your life, it may be as easy as modifying the way you see the world around you. If you believe that the world is full of frustration and chaos, you will surely find it. If you believe that your children are doing poorly in school, you will be richly blessed with examples of them fairing poorly. When we see the world through the lens of “what is wrong” rather than “what is right” with a person, place or issue, disharmony shows up in our bodies and minds. Although we project the negatives as being “out there,” our bodies take on the discomfort in the form of bodily stress, anxiety and discomfort.

Try the following exercise for the next week:

Choose a subject to focus on. This can be a child, your living space, a partner, or an issue of interest. Instead of finding the glaring negatives that pop out so readily, look for something positive and accentuate it. Ponder it, reflect on it, and allow yourself to feel grateful for your findings.

I’d be curious to hear what changes in your life as a result of this exercise. Please share!

As I was working on some paperwork my son came up to me and asked, “How did you make it a great day today Mom?” (Obviously, life coaching is a way of life in our home, not just a professional pursuit.) Each day before I send him off to school I ask him this question, “What will you do today to make it a terrific day?” His answers vary each morning, but I find he is searching deeper than ever before at ways to find his own happiness.

I thought for a moment about my day and enthusiasticially shared the highlights. I then asked him about his day. He ran through a litany of actions he had taken at school to make it a “great day.” Apprehensive in the morning to engage in art class, he said “I did my best in art, and I’ve brought my grade up. I had fun with my friends and feel great about school.”

This middle school aged child is learning and developing the skill of perspective. It’s not what happens to you that determines your happiness, but what you consciously choose to focus on that matters. He consciously made the choice to “make it a great day” by doing his best in school. Even though he struggles in art class, he choose to find something positive to focus on.

Parents are in a unique position to “coach” their children across the developmental life span. Yet, it is when our teachings come back to us that we are reminded of the importance of teaching correct principles and watching them unfold and blossom. When children and adults run with a powerful concept, it truly is inspiring.