What We Choose to Focus on Expands: A Journey into Perception and Positivity

1. Introduction

Ever spilled your morning coffee and felt like the universe conspired to trip you up all day? Or contemplated buying a certain car and suddenly began seeing it everywhere on the roads? Or, perhaps, when running late, found that you invariably hit every red light or got stuck behind that one driver leisurely cruising below the speed limit in the passing lane? Ok, maybe that slow driver in the left lane is a Montana thing! All joking aside, these occurrences underscore a fundamental principle: the elements we fixate on or dread seem to expand and sometimes, explode, in our reality.

2. The Power of Attention: Coffee Mishaps, Car Spotting, and the Joys of Traffic.

Consider the spilled coffee. Such an event can paint our day in grim hues(and set a negative tone), making us hyper-aware of subsequent nuisances-the little growing cluster of the Universe conspiring against us! Similarly, when contemplating a car purchase, our brain's reticular(network) activating system zeroes in on that particular model, making it seemingly omnipresent on streets-we see it everywhere. The traffic analogy, meanwhile, demonstrates how our anxiety and impatience when running late can heighten our sensitivity to every delay, amplifying our perception of being thwarted at every turn and attempt(to speed up and pass that dang slow poke).

3. The Mirror Effect: A Trail of Smiles and Reflections

On our local trails, my partner and I tested this theory of attention and reciprocation. She took the initiative to smile at every passerby(in truth, she always smiles), and the overwhelming majority responded with bright smiles and friendly hello's. Conversely, my neutral-some might say flat affect-demeanor elicited similar non-responsiveness or even an entire lack of eye contact. This experiment illustrated how our overt and covert signals can shape interactions and feedback loops.

4. Transcending to the Business Arena: The Pygmalion Effect

The Pygmalion Effect highlights and magnifies the profound impact of expectations (Pygmalion in the Classroom). Conceived in the 1960s, it emphasizes how positive or negative expectations of leaders can mold team performance. Corporations worldwide have internalized this, promoting a culture of positive reinforcement and trust, acknowledging that employee morale and productivity are intricately linked to managerial expectations (The Pygmalion Effect and its Influence).

5. Designing Your Personal Reality

Harnessing the power of focus can shape your daily narrative. Here's how:

• Mindful Thought Cultivation: Embrace positive affirmations every morning. Harness the 3-6-9 method. This method involves writing down your desired manifestation three times in the morning, six times during the day, and nine times in the evening. This repetition throughout the day is believed to reinforce your intention and signal the universe to bring your desire into reality. Disclaimer; I prefer to chat this myself; while I walk/hike or in bed, prior to falling asleep. Play with it and adopt

• Intention Setting: Envisage daily objectives, emphasizing constructive outcomes. I tend to visualize the desired outcome and then back track and create the baby steps needed to achieve the desired results to attain or meet my goal(intention).

• Harness Visualization: Mentally sketching success can create a compelling pull towards your aspirations. Science has proven this with a study re musical practice; practice in our minds or in life-our brains do not know the difference and the results-actual playing-were similar. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3747442/

• Intentional Gratitude: Easily short circuit negative thought loops with the inexhaustive power of gratitude. Whether its simply acknowledging the glowing, warm rays of the sun on your face, love for your child, partner or pet, etc. Its easy to suffocate negative thoughts with a short exercise and burst of gratitude.

6. Conclusion: An Open Challenge for Experience

Life is teeming with potentials for meaningful growth-if we choose to see them. Take action, strike the match and light up your life: adjust your lens, spotlight the affirmatives, and marvel at the ensuing positive transformation. Chronicle this journey—be it mentally or in a diary. By deliberately steering your attention(intentionality), every moment can morph into a chapter of enlightenment and delight. Embark on this expedition and illuminate the positive experiences awaiting you!