Life is full of ups and downs. No one knows that better than you. You’ve been through the good and bad, the highs and lows, the happiness and sorrow.
It’s easy to focus on the good when everything is going well, when we are surrounded by happy memories and positive people who tell us what we want to hear. It feels natural to bask in the good times and enjoy life when things are going our way.
But what about when the whole universe seems to be moving against you? When all you see around you is darkness and negativity? At times like this, harvesting the good in life can be difficult.
We’re often so busy looking for big payoffs and grand accomplishments that we forget to appreciate the small moments of happiness that come our way, every day.
How harvesting the good will move you forward
It expands your awareness.
When you focus on the good, you open yourself up to seeing more of it. It’s like turning on a light in a dark room—suddenly, everything becomes clear. If you keep your eyes shut tight and only focus on the darkness, you’ll never see anything else.
The same is true of focusing on the positive or negative in your life. If you only look for the bad, that’s all you’ll ever find. But if you train your mind to focus on the good, you’ll start to see all the beautiful things happening around you, even during tough times.
Cognitive reframing is also a powerful technique to harvest more of the good.
It increases your happiness
Contentment is contagious: when you’re happy, those around you become more joyful as well.
One of the best ways to be content is by focusing on the good in your life.
When you look for the positive, even during tough times, you’ll start to feel happier and more joyful overall.
It boosts your overall well-being
Harvesting the good will improve your overall well-being. Studies have shown that people who focus on the positive have better physical and mental health than those who dwell on the negative.
How to harvest the good
You can harvest the good in the simplest things and let that happiness carry you through tough times. The positive can be found everywhere if you know where to look:
- It’s in the sunbeam that streams through the window on a cold winter morning.
- It’s in the smile of a friend and in the laughter of a child.
- It’s in the beauty of a sunset and in the peace of a quiet moment.
Let’s take a moment to brainstorm some simple ways to harvest the good:
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Keep a list
Keep a list of all the things that make you happy and grateful—no matter how big or small they may seem!
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Harvest daily
Take time each day to reflect on those things and allow yourself to savor the goodness.
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Journal
Keep a journal where you write down 3 things that went well each day. Over time, this will help train your brain to automatically look for the positive instead of dwelling on negative thoughts and experiences.
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Surround yourself with ❤️ people
Surround yourself with people who make you feel good and share your positive outlook—these relationships will support and inspire you as you stay focused on all the wonderful things happening in your world.
Conclusion
Harvesting the good is a Magic Move because what you focus on expands. This is an age-old truth found by psychologists, scientists, and everyday people alike.
The more you think about something, the more real it becomes.
So don’t let the bad get you down! Pick yourself up, focus on the positive, learn from your mistakes, be compassionate with yourself, and keep moving forward.
