What are you looking at?

The gym I go to is doing some refurbishment and this week us women got to see our new look changing rooms, and quite swish they are too. New flooring, panelling on the walls, new shower cubicles, all in shades of brown and creams etc.
Whilst using them after the class this morning, one of the instructors asked us what we thought of the new look. Generally positive comments came back though one woman said she didn't like the new pictures - Zen type ones with pebbles, beaches and driftwood.
"Well, don't look at them then!" was the cheerful response from the instructor, who then went on to say that she liked the new mirrors.
I chuckled to myself at the bluntness of this reply but also though it was a great piece of advice.
How often do we focus on things that annoy us or bother us and in giving them energy, transform them into something huge? So huge that then all we can do is focus on them and this can lead us into a downward spiral of negativity.

When I first moved into my flat, I was not in a good place emotionally (and, let's be honest, physically) and hated the fact it was half way up a steep hill, a hill so steep that there are often stairs instead of streets. Every time I went anywhere it would involve either walking up hill to get there, or be uphill on the way back. I was forever moaning and grumbling to myself about it. At the time I was learning about the Law of Attraction and realised what I was doing to myself emotionally in terms of lowering my feelings and so began to look for things that I could appreciate and be grateful for.
Gradually my perspective changed, I noticed I was able to walk uphill without getting puffed and could see the benefit it was doing to my health and was grateful for that. Now when I walk around Les Pentes, as the area is called, I see and enjoy so many things such as the amazing renaissance and medievil architecture, and I regularly walk past a Roman amphitheatre on my way to work - how cool is that? I can walk through a couple of parks that keep me in touch with the seasons and nature. One even has these amazing long slides that are set into the hillside as seen in these pictures and yes, I have been on them! There are places you can stop and get amazing views of the city and, on a good day, the Alps and Mont Blanc. All in all Les Pentes are a great place to live!

So, what are you looking at?
The things your partner does that annoy you or things that they do that are great?
What are the worst bits about work or the best bits?

Once a friend of mine, who is a fantastic salsa dancer, fulfilled the ambitions of a life time and went to Cuba on holiday. When he came back all he could talk about were the things that had gone wrong or were a disappointment - being hassled in the clubs, the faults in the accommodation, the list went on and just listening to it brought my energy down and made me feel frustrated. I had to ask him what he had enjoyed about the holiday and he looked really surprised at my question.

So this week I encourage you to look at all the great things about a situation you don't like, give thanks for them and see what happens.