Night and Day: Choosing Your Reality

"There is nothing good or bad except what you think about it."

- The Bard of Avon

The title of this great Cole Porter song, "Night and Day," is also a good way to describe how my feelings about life can change.

It's late at night, and I'm thinking about all the things I have to do next week: details about publishing a book, getting ready for a workshop, finishing handouts, writing a script for an audio recording, calling my sister, making plane reservations to Chicago, and so on, not to mention all the phone calls, emails, internet searches, and follow-ups that go along with each project. I'm too busy, too tired, too focused on myself, and too weak to do anything.

I wake up early the next morning and do some deep breathing. I meditate, watch the sun come up, and look forward to the day ahead. Today, I'll find out when my book will be shipped, have the chance to write something new, plan a workshop, and maybe go for a walk to get some fresh air.

The same things that seemed hard, scary, and impossible to handle the night before now look like they have a lot of potential.

I am doomed - I am lucky. I'll get sick - I feel great! I'm sure to fail, but my day is full of hope.

We call these "Night and Day" points of view the Good Reality and the Bad Reality. I would rather be in the Good Reality, which is happy, full of possibilities, and a good place to be. The birds are singing and the sun is shining. Life is easy, smooth, and fun. There are problems, but I can deal with them. I have strong and resilient energy.

But sometimes I get stuck in the Bad Reality, where life is hard, sad, and stressful. I feel heavy, not good enough, and helpless. I can't seem to find my spirit or energy.

Is it up to you? I believe so. Something is going on outside, and the way I look at it changes what I see. My thinking makes it so.