Being able to focus on the positive aspects of a situation, while minimizing our preoccupation with the negatives, can free us from anxiety. It’s what allows us to press on and accomplish good things in the face of adverse conditions.
In 1944, songwriter Johnny Mercer captured the essence of that gift in this lyric:
“You’ve got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative