What Are You Looking For?

(3 minutes read time)

Ever feel like your brain has a built-in negativity GPS, rerouting you straight to the worst-case scenario? Yeah, same. I’m not a neuroscientist, but I’m pretty sure our minds have a “doom-scroll” mode that kicks in when we’re not paying attention. Sometimes it feels like my brain is throwing a pity party, complete with flashing neon signs that say “Here’s Everything That’s Wrong!” Someone hit the reset button already!

But here’s the good news: We’re not helpless victims of our mental default settings. No one handed us a user manual for life that says, “Sorry, you’re stuck in negative mode forever.” We have the power to choose what we focus on—and that choice can change everything.

It’s simple, really. You find what you’re looking for. If you’re scanning the horizon for problems, guess what? You’ll spot every single one. But if you look for the good, the beautiful, and the uplifting? You’ll start seeing those, too.

Think of it like treasure hunting. If you head to the beach with a metal detector, you’re not shocked when you find a few bottle caps and rusty nails—but you keep looking because you’re hoping for the gold. Life’s a lot like that: focus on the gold, not the garbage.

So, what’s your treasure? For me, it’s the simple joys. Like a fresh cup of home-brewed coffee filling the kitchen with its comforting aroma. Or stepping outside, feeling the breeze on my face, and hearing the rhythm of nature over my own thoughts.

It’s the quiet solitude of early mornings, when the world hasn’t quite woken up yet, giving me space to breathe and reset. It’s the satisfaction of moving my body through a good workout or the connection I feel in the laughter and love of my family. Those are my treasures—the gold I choose to look for.

What Should You Look For?

Here are a few things worth keeping your eyes open for:

• Look for beauty – It’s everywhere. Sunsets, trees, a perfectly toasted piece of bread. Yes, even bread.
• Look for connection – That stranger who held the door, the friend who texted, “Thinking of you,” or the waiter who nailed the service.
• Look for challenge – Growth comes through resistance. Embrace the hard stuff; it’s where your story gets interesting.
• Look for love – Not just romantic love, but kindness, generosity, and those small acts of humanity that make life rich.

We’re not just passengers in someone else’s story. We’re authors of our own, and let me tell you—there’s a lot of beauty waiting to be written into your chapters.

What’s Your Treasure?

So next time you’re walking through the moments of your day, ask yourself—what am I looking for? Because the answer will determine what you find.

Look for the gold. Skip the garbage. And enjoy the beauty of your story.