The Bright Side!

The Bright Side!

© Allen Merritt (2016)

Well, here we are closing in on the end of another year and a bunch of challenges. I feel compelled to consider the many events over the year and how each one impacted life in one way or another. There's a lot to think about if one is to look back and reconsider, evaluate and assess all that went on during the last 365 days leading up to where we are now. 

All in all, it has not been boring. Life is always interesting despite it all. One thought that keeps coming back to my mind over the past few weeks is seeing each moment from the bright side. For all the moments each of us encounter, there is always a bright or brighter side; something to enlighten us, make us better and to build us up in some capacity. 

Since it can be relatively easy to fall prey or victim to negativity and sensationalized situations, I can understand how human beings can find themselves off-track and lost, wondering how they got to where they are from where they started, especially when they weren't trying to get here, but were trying to get there, if you know what I mean. 

The best laid plans often hit road blocks, closed doors and other brick walls. Requirements, expectations, responsibilities and authority figures stand in the way or push us in a different direction without us realizing it sometimes. Then we have to stop and find our way back to ourselves or the "plan." It is like tunnel vision (in a way), but if you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, then you know there is always a bright side. Therein lies hope.

That is where looking on the bright side has its benefits. The idea is not a sugar coated one. The benefits to our well being are real and practical. Often, we keep ourselves in our own little world and forget to step outside the box, and then we eventually realize (sooner or later) that there is a bigger world out there. For me, I begin to see how life becomes subjective only to me. Objectively, if I take a moment and look around, I can see that regardless of any ridiculousness I encounter or the distortions I witness, I can discover there is more to it then what I first may see. I recognize that there are always more than two sides to a story and if I really take a cold hard look, I will find there are many, many...many beautiful things still left in the world. And, there are some really awesome, wonderful, kind and good people out there. Surrounding ourselves with that enriches our existence.

Just as the North Star shines brightly in the sky and the full moon blankets us with a comforting illumination, so does this "seeing things from the bright side" change our perspective toward the better. If the idea of mind over matter exists and is to work effectively, it means to use such tools to promote only the best in our lives. Not just for ourselves, but the whole of mankind. Every little bit of positivity helps. 

Looking on the bright side provides new insight and is comforting. Maybe we relax, breathe easier and smile more often as a result of such clarity. I like to think so. That's why I discuss it so much.

I see this as positivity in motion. It's a verb and it is active. Being positive in demeanor is contagious. 

Go ahead, pass it on! See what happens.

When I think more on it, I understand how important this ideology is, because life really is moving along at a fast clip. It is super short. I think I would rather not waste any more of my time on anything less than wonderful. 

Let's work together on finding a brighter side to our lives; each day, every moment and throughout every circumstance we run up against. There may be a lot of craziness up the road moving forward, so why not make the most of it?

Let's make a toast. 

Here's to looking on the bright side!

May everyone have the opportunity to live more peaceably.

Cheers!

Happy holidays!