The way you focus on what you don't have, is preventing you from attaining what you want to have.

Focusing on connections or material possessions that you lack, lowers your vibrations. You are unconsciously creating an energy of misfortune, of lacking satisfaction.

Whether you believe in the spiritual practice of manifestation or not, no one can deny that focusing on something negative affects your mood.

When you focus on the relationship you don't have. The job that feels unfilling. The money that isn't in your bank account, etc. It's hard to focus on anything positive. You're setting yourself up to continue riding the negative wave, and essentially preventing yourself from attaining those things you're lacking.

When you're stuck in this mindset, you fall into an endless loop of noticing everything that you don't have. You lose some of the gratitude for the things you do have. You come to feel as though you'll always be lacking, because that's all you know.

It's like when I used to go biking as a kid. I was always the clumsy one, who would somehow end up falling in the very obvious pothole. Looking back, I realized that it was because I was so anxious, because I was so convinced that I would fall, that my gaze centered on the hole. I was focused on what I didn't want to happen, and didn't stop to think about how I could do to attain my desired outcome. I had two handle bars that could be turned, and a clear path.

In a similar case, a skier wouldn't keep their gaze on the trees they wish to avoid. They focus their attention on the path that glides between the trees. The path that ensures safety. If you go skying, and dreadfully stare down the tree in your path, I can almost guarantee that you will hit it.

Any situation can be viewed through at least two different perspectives. It's just a matter of learning to choose the perspective that best suits your interest.

Changing negative thoughts into positive thinking, isn't instantaneous. You have to force yourself to seek out the optimism hiding behind negativity. Just because you can't see the sunshine behind dark clouds, doesn't mean it's not there. And the more you force this optimistic way of thinking, the more they will become your routine way of thinking.

An empty notebook, doesn't have to represent writer's block or lacking ideas. It's a blank state for what may possibly be the best story you'll ever write.

Someone who is single, doesn't have a heart that's lacking love. It's a heart waiting to share all the love it holds. It's an opportunity to meet a person or persons with whom you can build amazing connections.

When you start training your mind to look at these scenarios in a different way, you will find yourself apprecating what you have. And gratitude brings positive vibrations. It allows for the flow of even more abundance.

Deserting Negative Thoughts

If you're stuck in a desert, obviously you're going to have to focus on the water you don't have, at least to some extent. If you don't know about the problem, you're not going to magically find water. You have to acknowledge it, to then work on finding a solution.

I'm not suggesting that you ignore a lacking necessity, but if you focus only on this thing you don't have, you're going to struggle with its absence a lot longer than anticipated.

You're in the desert. You have no water. You have no mean of correcting your growing dehydration... You see a hopeless situation. Most of all, you have no plan. You have no hope, because you're only seeing the worst.

Once this lacking necessity has been acknowledged, will yourself not to panic. Calm your mind, and remind yourself what you do have.

What do you have to help attain this missing necessity?

Maybe you have good survival instincts. Maybe you have a phone to call for help. Maybe you have a partner in crime to support you in your problem solving. Maybe you have an canteen. Am empty canteen translates to a canteen that has the potential to be filled. Un-explored land presents the opportunity of stumbling upon a cactus or oasis.

Challenge yourself by creating a list of situations or material possessions, in which you find yourself focusing on the parts you don't have. And then one by one, look at the materials and traits you have that can be utilized to change absence to possession.

Because anywhere that an absence is noticed, leaves room for something to be present.

Anything that has been emptied can be filled again.

Try looking at the opportunities you're waiting on, in a different light.

Here a few examples that I've applied to my life:

The romantic relationship I've been looking for, has allowed room for self-growth and self-love. I know what I want, and most of all what I deserve.A rejection from an agent is opportunity to reflect and improve my book. I have a completed manuscript. I have the means to improve it. I have feedback to apply.The job that doesn't thrill me, has taught me many skills. It presents excellent experience to add to my resume. It has helped me see what I truly find passion in.

The person you are right now already has the essential qualities that you envision in the highest version of yourself. Everything starts somewhere. Maybe it starts with motivation. Motivation to thrive for self-improvement. Motivation to learn something new. Courage to stand back up when you fall. Courage to speak up on things that matter. Courage to take a risk. Creativity to try something new...

If you practice the optimal perspective, in a sense you already have everything you need to succeed in the future.

There's a quality or qualities that you hold, that will be responsible for the achievement of your dreams.

Look within. See what's already in you. See what's already around you.

I believe in you. It's time to believe in yourself.