Imagine you are walking through the mall with your children. They are bouncing around, excited, laser-focused on making it to the Lego store.

Then coming toward you is a kid about the same age as yours, being pushed in a wheelchair. You can't ignore it. Your mind goes there immediately. You feel sorry for him. You think about what he has lost, what he will never get to do. You feel sad, and then grateful, grateful for something most of us never think twice about.

Working legs.

The next day, you're reading Atomic Habits, and you come across one line. Just one.

Read that again.

Your first thought about that kid was everything he lost. His first thought was of everything he gained. Same wheelchair. Completely different perspective. Not a motivational concept, not a poster on a wall. It's the lens you use to see life, and it is always your choice.

What you focus on shapes what you feel. What you feel shapes what you do. And what you do shapes everything that comes after.

The question isn't whether life will hand you a wheelchair moment. It will. The question is what you're going to say about it when it does.

P.S. Today is the 280th episode of the Optimistic Outlook, which is also a podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts.