Isn’t it funny how when something comes up in your consciousness, you suddenly notice it everywhere? Like getting a new car. Suddenly you notice how many of the same car are on the road. Your awareness helps you see what was already there.
Last week, when I wrote Focus on the Good, it was unrelated to anything else that was going on for me. Since then, the concept of “focusing on the good” has come up numerous times. It’s coming up in books I’m reading, in conversations with others, and in my own self-examination of things going on around me. I keep seeing how focusing on the good brings me to a better place. It keeps me moving forward, instead of wallowing and getting stuck.
In general, I consider myself an optimistic personality. When I run into a problem, I don’t get stuck. I say, “OK, here I am. What am I going to do about it?” I’m a problem solver. I think you have to be optimistic to solve problems. If you believe there is no solution to something, there won’t be. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But maybe the “problems” don’t always need “solved.” Maybe it’s just a matter of seeing what’s good in a situation, and going with that. I wonder, would the “problems” dissolve away, in that case? It’s something for me to think about. I see some interesting possibilities in the idea of problem dissolving rather than solving. As if maybe, some of the problems aren’t really problems in the first place.
You can see the dandelions as weeds, or as a pretty yellow flower. Your actions will be different, depending on how you look at the situation.
Focus on the good. Dissolving problems. I might be playing with this idea here for a while. I think there is something to it.
Yes, I have notice that once you have something to focus on, you see it everywhere…ha, ha. But I definitely needed to hear these words…”maybe the “problems” don’t always need “solved.” Maybe it’s just a matter of seeing what’s good in a situation, and going with that.” I too, try to dissolve all problems and get very frustrated when I can’t…so now I’m going to try to look at it differently, thank you.
Capture Life!
Kathy
Hey Kat: Getting caught up on your posts as I’ve had lots of girlfriend time these past couple of weeks. This is such a wonderful post. Love the photo and so much wisdom in your words. What I’ve also come to realize is that I can’t always solve the problem either. My father has Alzheimer’s and I try so hard to help in many ways…but I also have to realize I can’t fix everything either. Thanks for a wonderful ending post as I finished getting caught up!
Girlfriend time sounds awesome! Welcome back.
I think the engineer (left brain) looks for solutions and the photographer (right brain ) sees possibility. Wonderful to have both perspectives!
Gina, I hadn’t thought of it like that. The left brain needs to solve problems, while the right brain is able to let them dissolve. The problem with living out of the left brain so much of the time is that it’s easy to get into “problem solving” mode about everything!
As a fellow problem solver, I like the idea of dissolving instead.