Buried treasure was just waiting to be found. I knew it had to be true. Inside the back cover of my comic book shined a full-color advertisement, of the perfect metal detector. Dials, lights, and gauges decorated the shiny control panel. The muscle-bound treasure hunter, walked down the beach, with the prized metal detector in one hand and a bag of riches in the other. The surprised expression of his bikini-clad girlfriend squealed another discovery was imminent.
The possibilities were endless, and I knew the beach would reveal its buried treasure. However, my beachcombing dreams were dashed. My father rejected my cries for the magical device, and I lived 400 miles from the beach.
We search for the valuable and dismiss the worthless. We upend the house and bark at those we love when hunting for misplaced car keys. The dog will pursue the bone under the couch until success is achieved or the sofa is trashed.
How much effort do you expend to find the positive?
During a podcast conversation with Tim Ferriss, world weightlifting champion and poet, Jerzy Gregorek discussed the need to explore for positivity. Our ability to find the negative preserved our lives, however, this ability overwhelms our daily outlook.
What is one thing positive about your pesky neighbor, the school outcast, the snarky co-worker, the old or new administration, your child, your spouse?
How are you going to choose to expend your limited resources of time and attention?
Finding the downsize and negative aspect of anything is easy. Heavy lifting is achieved when pushing back against the temptation to criticize. Positivity promises the gain of a happier outlook on life. Carefully consider your perceived gains of the negative choice. Examine the countenance of the embittered old man; the negative choice promises the same reflection.
You are going to choose.
The good news is you don't need to send away for fancy gizmos with flashy lights or six-pack abs to choose a new direction. Opportunities will abound tomorrow to exercise your choice.
So what is it going to be?