When life hands you challenges – Shift your FOCUS

Often, life hands us challenges, setbacks and even disappointments. It’s easy to let those things become the main focus and keep us from enjoying all the good things happening around us.
The happiness and joy we feel relates to the things we choose to focus on. Our focus creates the way we feel, act and behave moment to moment.

{Little Example}

Earlier this week, I was able to attend my son’s little league baseball game. As I was sitting in the bleachers – enjoying the sun, the game and the company of the other baseball fans, my daughter (age 6) came running up to me sobbing.

“Mom, I lost my littlest pet shop.” She cried.

“Was it the littlest, tiny one or just the little one?” I asked.

This question made her stop and think (and instantly ceased her sobbing!) If you are into the Pet Shop toys, you know that there are tiny ones and then little ones. If it was the tiniest pet shop (the size of your fingernail), we had a long night ahead of us to find it.) If it was the regular sized Pet Shop – our chances of reclaiming it were much higher. Thankfully, the one missing was not the fingernail sized critter. Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

By asking a question, I was able to shift her focus and we were better able to deal with the realness of the situation. I told her to say a little prayer and ask for help finding it. Then we began hunting for the little brown squirrel. The parents in the stands could see we were hunting and they gathered their own children and began to look too. The Hero of the moment was our Catcher’s Dad! At first grab, he thought he found an acorn but really discovered it was the lost toy! Thanks Craig for your Eagle eyes and kind heart!

{Focus - It matters!}

This little incident reminded me that challenges (big or the size of a fingernail) matter but should not consume us or keep us from finding joy. It also reminded me that through our challenges, we learn a great deal from those around us that care and reach out to help us. Happiness is continually up for grabs! REACH up and REACH out to those you can help and those that can help you!

The next time you find yourself consumed in a challenge that seems too big – stop and ask yourself a question or two.

Here are a couple that may help:
1) What is great about this?
2) Who can I ask to help me with this challenge? (Please consider saying a prayer first – the Lord hears you and does respond.) And often sends the answer in the form of another person. :)

And finally, feel free to go outside pick up a rock and hold it right in front of your eye (so you can’t see anything else.) Then toss it out into the yard. That is what your challenge really is – a pebble in the sea of LIFE. Use that pebble to be a stepping stone to a better you, a better tomorrow and a sweeter soul.

The challenges we are faced with are there for us. They help us grow, learn and become! Shift your focus and choose to SEE and appreciate what’s great about them!