Every day we have so many opportunities to look at life from the perspective of what’s right in our everyday interactions.  It’s important to focus on what we want so we aren’t creating more of what we don’t want.

Yesterday as my daughter and I were talking about the many changes they are going through in their life, it became very clear how easy it is to fall into the dark hole of negativity. They have just returned from being away from Oklahoma for the past year. They bought a house but it needs remodeling. It was supposed to be done by the time they returned August 1st.  Yet, all that is done is the demolition of the areas needing changes. They had to find a place to live for the month they will be displaced. The contractor has now given them a date of September 7th to be in their house. As they go by each day to see what is done, which is very little or none, it is easy to get frustrated, angry and ranting about why it isn’t done. Yet, where does that get them?  It doesn’t make the work happen quicker, it can build more stress for them, and it’s not up to them to do the work since they contracted it to be done. She said, we need some peace in our life, so we can’t let this get us.

It was a great example of trying to focus on what’s right or what you want more of in your life. She said we are all together for the first time in a year so we have a lot to be grateful for. It’s not always easy. If we take a few moments to ask ourselves what do we really want, we can have that little shift that opens up some clarity of what is really important. In a month or so from now, will all that nit picking, negative energy really be helpful or good for their lives?  Take a moment in your life, and ask yourself, what do you really want, and let that be your guide to how you live your life. If you want more peace, then as things like this show up in our life (which it does), just let peace be your focus for how you are handling the situation. As you find yourself ready to throw a fit, ask if that will give you the peace you are wanting in your life.  Remember, there is another way.  Focus on what you want rather than all the circumstances around us that are out of our control.

The Serenity Prayer comes in handy in times like these:

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can,
And, the wisdom to know the difference.