Struggling with focus

[28562]

Do any of you ever struggle with focusing too much on what you don’t have and want rather than focusing on being thankful for all the things you do have? How do you combat these feelings? I am having a very diffiicult time with this right now.

 

[Deana83]

I struggle with it as well. The danger for me is that if I start to focus on what I don’t have and what I want it will spiral into self-pity and all sorts of negativity. Then I get depressed and angry. I’ve found if I make a gratitude list it helps. Think of 10 things you have to be grateful for everyday, it doesn’t have to be anything big. At first it will be difficult if you’re really in a slump, but if you do this consistently after a few days you should notice a shift in your attitude. Try it, it might help but if it doesn’t -it sure isn’t going to hurt.

 

[Convert_in_99]

I also struggle greatly with this problem. It takes all I have, but I try to thank God that they have been so blessed and that they don’t have to endure the crosses I do. I also try to think of the crosses that they might have to carry in their situation (same as I would have to carry them if I was in their shoes.) Then, I try to think of someone who has a harder cross than me and pray for them. It doesn’t work everytime and sometimes I just give into jealousy/envy and through a pity-party for myself. But we ask for forgiveness and try harder the next time the opportunity presents itself to us.

 

[AussieAngel]

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was from a motivational speaker who came to give a talk at our high school right before our exams. He said no matter how bad life may seem for us at any point in time, there would always be someone else in the world who was worse off. This had remained with me through my adult life and I try to give thanks on a daily basis for something I am grateful for, such as the roof over my head, food in the fridge, lovely friends and family. If there is anything I feel that is lacking in my life, I ask God to provide and leave it up to Him (even though I do have to remind myself that He does things in His own time, not my own impatient time)

 

[Caroline723]

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was from a motivational speaker who came to give a talk at our high school right before our exams. He said no matter how bad life may seem for us at any point in time, there would always be someone else in the world who was worse off. This had remained with me through my adult life and I try to give thanks on a daily basis for something I am grateful for, such as the roof over my head, food in the fridge, lovely friends and family. If there is anything I feel that is lacking in my life, I ask God to provide and leave it up to Him (even though I do have to remind myself that He does things in His own time, not my own impatient time)

I agree completely with this 100%. The upside of the internet and 24/7 news is that the suffering of others is always front page news. You can literally always find someone else worse off in the area that you feel suffering. When you feel self-pity or anger at God, you need to find their stories and feel their suffering.

On the upside, there is the notion of “God’s best”. There is a God’s best for you out there, and if you feel the void of it right now, your focus should be on preparing to receive it. Have confidence that God will deliver it when you are ready. I think part of the struggle is the feeling of frustration and powerlessness. But if you consider that God has a “best” planned for you, you will see the work you need to do prior to receiving it. The time will no longer be spent waiting, but in activity. There is a quote about the key to happiness in being busy. It can be interpreted in a worldy, superficial way. But on a deeper spiritual level, it can be that we can find purpose and fulfillment in the all-consuming work of holiness. When we focus on life at that level, we no longer see the piddly little things we want but don’t have.

 

[HolyRosaryChild]

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I loved you raising this point in our relationship with Jesus.

This year has been my ‘thanking year’ to Jesus; for all of the actual Blessings He has given me in my past and in my Childrens lives; many reminders coming through The Holy Rosaries am praying daily! So many hundreds of Blessings He has given myself and my Children that never a thought at the time or for years given to our Heavenly Father and Brother that should have been acknowledged during my almost 50 years!

Love and best wishes and for a top thread!