If a boxer is focused on the last punch they took, they’re not going to see the one that’s coming. If a yogi is focused on the pose before they’re not going to be engaged in the one they are in. Guiding the mind back to the moment is a constant challenge. The inner struggle is real. If the mind is distracted, it’s easy to go in a million different directions yet get nowhere at all.

Cultivating a positive thought every time a negative thought enters the mind sounds simple enough, yet it’s not always easy. The reality of switching your thought process like a light switch, especially when you’re experiencing a challenging time can be very difficult. Developing the opposite is ultimately about changing our attitude toward the person or situation creating the difficulty rather than attempting to change the person or situation itself.