I am simply amazed at the news.

One day, the sky is falling.
The next day, everything is great.

One day, a recession is imminent.
The next day, we’re set for an epic run and the economy is thriving.

One day, we are on the verge of complete and total financial meltdown, and the next…well, you know the story.

I recently read Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book, “Be Useful.”

‘Incredible book in general; remarkable human being.

The biggest thing I took away from the book, his podcast, and his online presence in general is the opening statement:

“Welcome to the positive corner of the internet.”

What a novel concept. Be positive. No matter how difficult things can be, BE POSITIVE.

Now, I know that’s easier said than done. But why not take the approach of being positive as much as possible – or at least try?

There are few (or no) situations I can think of where a negative attitude or outlook actually helps.

Instead, all of that doom-and-gloom and anxiety only manifests more of the same, obfuscating the clear thinking needed to generate actual solutions and innovations.

But with the news media, they must SELL! SELL! SELL!

If it bleeds, it leads, and people just aren’t as interested in the positive, enlightening stuff as they are a good natural disaster or car crash. (I say that tongue in cheek, of course.)

Thankfully, in our daily digestion of media, social media, and even who we surround ourselves with, we can consciously decide how we choose to live and feel. We are the gatekeepers as to which thoughts are allowed to enter the sacred temple or our minds.

We can be positive. We can choose to diminish the negative. We get to decide.

It’s really that simple (although it is far from easy – especially at first).

So, with the new year now upon us, I thought it was a great moment to offer this reminder: CHOOSE to be positive in 2024. I know I will!

-J.D.