Hi there, friend!

Mich here with the Boost Your Happiness series. Today’s topic is “boost your happiness by focusing on the good.”

Here's a story:

“That’s the standard.” This was the foreman’s go-to answer many times when we asked him about why things were regarding details of the ongoing construction of our house. And I would take none of it.

How could I take that for an answer when the home office desk, as well as part of the kitchen counter, were higher than their supposed measurements? Or when the kitchen sink couldn’t fit into the already constructed countertop (oops!)? Or when the planned rustic-look finish of the brick wall for the altar was now varnished and glossy? (Not to mention that the OBVIOUSLY wrong tiles were put in the same bathroom…which my husband immediately ordered to be removed and fixed…)

Oh, the stresses of construction and the infinite details! I found myself easily irritable when news such as the scenarios above would surface. But thank God, I never went all-out ballistic. He grabbed my attention and made me realize I was focusing on the wrong things. Here I was, in front of a major blessing — a house! — and I allowed the nitty-gritty to really weigh me down.

Of course, we still had to tell the foreman this and that, but the difference now was I wasn’t uptight and irritable a lot of times. I had peace in my heart as I shifted my focus toward the good things and started thanking God for specific things about the house — like the tiles in this room were finally finished, that the doors were installed, that this fixture was set…and did I mention that we didn’t have to pay for this house?! (God works in miraculous ways, I tell you!)

Shame on me…I didn’t want to end up an ingrate. So I began to focus on the good.

• Encouragement + Action Step

Do the wrong things grab your attention faster than the good things? Is this your default setting? If so, I encourage you to change your perspective. In that seemingly negative scenario, find 3 good things in it. It’s like playing “I Spy.” It’s hidden there somewhere, but it is there. Make a habit of magnifying the good.

• Bible verse:

“You’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” Philippians 4:8 (MSG)

I hope this has helped to add happiness to your day. :) Feel free to share this email with anyone whom you think might benefit from it.

And remember — 

Be proactive about your happiness. Because a happy you can create a positive change in this world!

Blessings!

Mich :)

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Here are the links to previous topics:

• Boost Your Happiness with Gratitude

• Boost Your Happiness by Thinking of Others

And if you're a new subscriber, welcome! Here's your freebie (just in case you haven't downloaded it yet):

• List of Happiness Boosters

(Just a disclaimer: Featured photo is not from my house, heehee. Loving all the elements, though. :D)