 The Black Dot Can you see the black dot? Can you NOT see the black dot? It's not what you can see, it's how you choose to look at it that changes worlds. Don't try not to see the black dot - instead, notice the expanse of white around the black dot - this is the field of infinite possibilities - and choose to experience it all. This story written by Unknown has been around for a while. In the current climate, it's worth re-telling and reflecting on where our focus lies. If you believe that what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it - then you must also believe that when you focus on the black dots in your life, they will expand too. “What you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it.” — Oprah Winfrey The Black Dot One day, a professor entered her classroom and asked her students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin. The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual. Once she handed them all out, she asked the students to turn over the papers. To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions–just a black dot in the center of the paper. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the following: “I want you to write about what you see there.” The students, confused, got started on the inexplicable task.  At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams and started reading each one of them out loud in front of all the students. All the students, without exception, had written about the black dot on the paper. They described its position. They wrote of its blackness, its size, its dark and foreboding meaning. They speculated on how it might symbolize death, fear or destruction. After she had read all the papers, the professor offered this explanation: I’m not going to grade you on this, she said. I just wanted to give you something to think about. You all wrote about the black dot. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. (the field of infinite possibilities) The same thing frequently happens in life, she continued. Imagine our lives are like these pieces of paper with black dots. Let´s assume that the black dot signifies the issues/negative aspects in our lives. Look at the expanse of white paper around it. (the field of infinite possibilities) We have lots to enjoy and be thankful for but, we insist on focusing on the dark spots: the health issues that bother us, a lack of money, the complicated relationship with the family member, a disappointment with a friend — so many challenges, so much heartache and loss. We have much to celebrate – the sunrise every day, nature renewing itself every day, friends and family around us, the job that provides our livelihood, the miracles that we can see everywhere if we are open to them. Sometimes we let the little black dots multiply and join together until they threaten to completely obscure the potential of everything else.  It doesn’t have to be that way. The dark spots are small compared to the vast white canvas of our lives; we needn’t allow them to take over our hearts and minds. We can imagine our lives differently. Don’t let black dots fill the pages of your life. Yes, mourn sadness and loss when appropriate – life is filled with contrast. And then, see and celebrate JOY and LOVE – life is a gift, the present is here - in the present. Savour your blessings, live each moment, be happy, be hopeful. Paint your own colourful pictures. Don’t let your life be all about the black dots. “Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.” - Nikos Kazantzakis Your challenge, should you wish to accept it, is to allow yourself to acknowledge the black dots in your life and then to see the the white space around them. That space is full of good things - the field of infinite possibilities. Shift your focus from the black dot to encompass the white space, the whole of your life. Celebrate everything in your life, even the black dots, because without them, you could not begin to appreciate the white space - the good things. So: Step 1 - Decide that you are going to recognise and experience everything in your life; The black dots and the white space. Step 2 - Acknowledge both, and acknowledge that there is something positive to be found in both. Allow yourself to experience the field of infinite possibilities. Step 3 - IMAGINE, DREAM, FEEL how good it feels to change your perspective, to choose how you will live your life. Step 4 - Choose to make how you feel your No. 1 priority. ( Even if it means you spend more time dreaming!) The only person stopping you is you. You Got This.
Let me know how it goes. Linda Ledwidge is or has been at one point in her life a - human BEing as well as a human DOing, woman, daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, nurse, midwife, head cook and bottle washer, among other things and her passion today is to hear you smile! You can contact her here. #FreeFloLiving #FeelingOnPurpose #KISS #RedressStress #PivotPoint
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