Celebrate What’s Right

According to Dewitt Jones, a photographer for National Geographic, “celebrating what’s right with the world keeps us open to possibilities and gives us energy.” When he is on a shoot he first looks for the positive, then he focuses on enhancing that and getting rid of everything else.  Here is a short video where he talks about how he stays open to seeing the positive.

As much as we hate to admit it, we all have limited cognitive capacity.  If we use it to focus on the negative, on what is wrong, on problems, then there isn’t enough left to see what’s good!  But our natural tendency is to focus on the negative.  Attending to potential threats is what has kept our species alive all of these centuries.

Like Dewitt, positive people and positive organizations intentionally look for what is good and rejoice in it.  Instead of focusing on the negative, they choose instead to celebrate what is right.

Why not set a goal for the new year to look for the positive in every situation?  And when you see it celebrate it!  Recognize employees for what they are doing right.  Tell your friends and family what it is you appreciate about them.  Give thanks for all of your blessings.  Don’t just have fireworks on New Year’s Eve.  Find reasons to celebrate all year long!