We live in a world where there are plenty of things to notice. Things that are exciting, pleasing, heartwarming, and instill love and hope. And there are also things that are baffling, disheartening, or downright disturbing. Things that corrupt and tear down. Ask a hundred different people what they see and you’ll get a hundred different answers, perspectives, or perceptions. What we see is strongly influenced by what it is we expect to see.

You’ve heard of this story, I’m sure –

Many years ago, the owner of a large shoe factory decided to expand his business and break into new markets. He sent two of his employees on a market research mission to Asia, giving each the task of gathering information from a different part of the continent.

After weeks at sea, the first man arrived at his destination. He alighted the boat and was immediately stunned by what he encountered – none of the locals was wearing shoes! In fact they have never heard of such things!

The man sent urgent message to his boss: “I have arrived and checked. They don't know anything about shoes. We won't be able to sell a single pair. I'm returning immediately.”

The second employee also spent a number of weeks at sea before arriving at his destination in a different Asian port. He, too, could hardly believe what he saw when he got of the boat – not a single person in there was wearing shoes! they have never heard of such things!

The man sent an urgent message to his boss: “I have arrived and checked. They don't know anything about shoes here. The potential is enormous! The market is huge! We can sell millions of pairs in a year! I've started making contacts.”

The message is clear, but we always need to be reminded – if we tune our thoughts to a higher frequency, we will find more and more good things in the world around us. If we see mostly the negative then, perhaps, that is what we are conditioned to look for. If we see mostly positive or our thoughts are continually those of possibility thinking, then that is what we are attuned to.