The adage about the glass being half-full or half-empty is well-worn. When I look at a glass of water, I want to see that it is half-full. Yet in life, I often find myself reacting with a half-empty perspective–even when I don’t realize it. I am grateful for the people who gently help me recognize when I do.
Where’s the solution?
Years ago, a man I worked for taught me to be solutions-based. He challenged me not to bring problems or complaints without offering a possible way forward. That mindset stuck with me. Now, as someone who often receives feedback or criticism from others, I appreciate when it’s paired with a solution.
Recently, a friend gave me a helpful tool–a simple but powerful question: “How can we make this situation great?” It’s a question that shifts the tone entirely. I’ve found that most people want to contribute to making something great. Asking that question moves us toward collaboration instead of frustration.
Trusting the process
Not long ago, I found myself affected–though indirectly– by a decision being made by a governing body. Waiting in the unknown was difficult. When the moment for a decision arrived…nothing happened. No clarity. No next step. My instinct was to blame, to judge, to feel angry for those left living in the unknown. At that moment, the glass seemed half-empty.
But then a wise friend reminded me: there’s usually more to the story. Perhaps new details surfaced. Maybe the decision makers were doing their due diligence to ensure the best possible outcome. Just like that, I saw the glass differently.
Believe the best
I always have a choice: to assume the worst or to believe the best. When someone shares something in a group text that I wish had been texted to me privately, I can still believe the best. When someone posts personal news online that I thought was private, I can choose trust over offense. In the end, I am the beneficiary of this choice. Instead of feeling like the world is against me and being plagued by resentment, I am free to love and be loved.
Of course, I don’t always get there on my own. Especially when I’m hungry, overwhelmed, or tired. But the people who help nudge me back toward a positive mindset are treasures. They remind me to pause, breathe, and choose again. That pause is where I rediscover the spectrum of solutions available to me and the grace to see the glass half-full.