Pay attention to what you pay attention to

Your emotional experience is closely tied to what you focus on.

If 90% of your attention is focused on a mistake you made at work that you feel embarrassed about, guess what? You probably won’t feel great. 

On the other hand, if 90% of your attention is focused on your kid’s soccer game and how happy they appear to be while playing, guess what? You’re probably much happier.

The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command use a phrase in their resiliency training: “Hunt the Good Stuff.” 

The premise is simple: when you actively look for the positive aspects of life (the ‘Good Stuff’), you create positive emotions, and the quality of your experience improves. 

As you go about your day, try noticing what you pay attention to, Hunt the Good Stuff, and see if you can shift your focus in the direction of that Good Stuff. 

Any shift, however slight, can make all the difference in how you think and feel.