It’s a Zen Thing, Baby

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Last week we took a look at the power of positive focus. So easy to know, yes? Yet most people do the opposite—they focus on the negative. We’ve done it too, so we can’t be too hard on anyone. But we can’t just let this slip into one of those concepts we take for granted, either. This is extremely important.

It’s one of the greatest secrets to both happiness and success. You’ve heard it 100 times; you just have to do it. If you have to read it a thousand times a day as a reminder, so be it. Eventually it’s got to get into you naturally and effortlessly.

Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want.

Most people spend most of their day thinking about, talking about, and being about what they don’t want. ‘I don’t like this. This isn’t going right. This is a problem.’ Well, guess what? You just got more of it. What you focus on expands! Your attention has created your reality. Reality really is what you make it.

If you want more money, don’t focus on what you don’t have because that gives you that focus on the lack in your life. That’s a lack of consciousness, and you get more lack. Focus on earning and accumulating more money for your reason. If you want to create a great new business opportunity, don’t focus on how much you hate what you’re doing now. Focus on discovering a great opportunity. Focus on the solution.

Remember, I’m talking about positive focus, not positive thinking.  What’s the difference?

Positive thinking doesn’t acknowledge “negative” reality. It kind of glosses over things. You can focus on finding more opportunities to make more money, but that doesn’t change the fact that you have to eat now. You don’t change a car accident by thinking, “If I drive away, maybe nobody will notice.” Positive thinking doesn’t always account for personal responsibility.

Positive focus means looking at the now, getting the most out of now, which will affect a later future. It acknowledges the law of duality; that there must be both a positive and a negative side to everything.

Then we are just being aware that we simply are choosing to put our attention on and accentuate the positive because we know that’s what will expand for us. We know that’s what supports us; we know that’s what will make for a happier, more successful life.

It’s a Zen difference—knowing that as we paint it, we make it something, and it’s going to be empowering for us to think and focus on the positive. That’s why we do it, not because it’s true! The positive and the negative are both true!

We choose our thoughts not based on true or false. We choose them based on whether they support us or not. The mind is limited in its conscious attention. You can only entertain one thought at a time. Make sure it’s got a positive focus.

What do you think? What are your thoughts on the differences between positive thinking and positive focus? Are there any times when “positive thinking” is appropriate? We want to hear from you on this Zen-logical mind-twister!