Life has a way of dealing cards that might as well have a picture of frustration on them.

Things happen outside of your control, and the natural response is disappointment. Sometimes it feels like the only response.

For example, my 13-year-old is on the student council at school, which I’m proud of. But it comes with a 7 a.m. meeting, which means an hour-long round trip for the parent involved instead of grabbing the bus closer to home.

On one particular Tuesday, the meeting was on the calendar, so the whole family got up early to make it happen. At 6:55, I dropped him off. A few minutes later, I got a text.

“Dad, I don’t have a meeting today. It’s tomorrow.”

It was my first card of the day, and it had a picture of frustration on it.

In the past, I might have let that response carry into the rest of my day. But this time, I caught myself and asked a question I’ve been trying to live by.

And what is the positive?

So I texted him back, “That makes me mad, John Ellis… but it did give me extra time with you and your sister.” He responded, “Sorry… but I did get to go to Mass though.”

And just like that, the moment shifted.

A mistake by a 13-year-old and an inconvenience for a dad became something else entirely. Now, this doesn’t mean I want the mistake repeated. It doesn’t mean I have to like what happened.

But it does mean you get to choose what you focus on. And what you focus on, you get more of.

So here’s the challenge for today.
When something doesn’t go your way, ask yourself one simple question. “And what is the positive?”

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.