Many have heard of the analogy comparing the optimistic person to one who sees a glass as half full and those with pessimistic tendencies seeing the same glass as half empty. It's a good analogy.
The other day I used it in a bit of a different light. I have found it quite easy to see negative in those I am closest to and overlook the many positive attributes.
As I was faced with becoming frustrated by having my focus pinpointed onto a rather irritating quality of an individual, the analogy of 1/2 empty 1/2 full suddenly came to me.
I can look at an individual in this same light. I can focus on negative or the positive within the same person. It's my choice.
Immediatley my frustration was diminished as I started to think of those things that were true and good and pure and noble and of good report about this individual, and let the negative trait slide down in magnitude.
I'm pretty sure God must use this technique a lot with me!
Prov 19:11
A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
NIV
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