When our eyes are grateful, we can see grace and goodness all around us. But often, we live as if life isn’t good enough, we don’t have enough, and we just plain aren’t enough.

Well, my friend, this is where we get it all wrong—our focus is off.

According to author Michele Howe, the more we focus on ourselves, the less we develop an attitude of appreciation for what we do have. And when we dwell on the things we wish we had or immerse ourselves in the negative, our troubled feelings and actions will follow.