The Bright Side

Q: When is the bright side not the right side?

A:  When it’s the left side.

A few years ago I shared my comedic shopping travesty with you. My brush with fitting room fame was a direct result of weakness in my left shoulder. Since that time, I’ve had surgery, gone through rehab and made reasonable weight training part of my regular routine. (I blame P90X for my original injury. Sorta.) 

An ongoing lament in my quest for health and fitness is instability/tightness/weakness in my right hamstring, hip flexor and glute. Despite several years of regular training, I wobble and wince my way through balance work and strength exercises on my right side. Today was no exception:

I did a series of exercises that put both sides of my body to the test: some hip hinges and TRX rows with rotation. After completing the set according to the trainer’s instruction on my left side (what, you thought I’d do that on my own?), I shifted to my right. My frustration surged immediately; I fumbled through the set. It took longer. It hurt more. I felt clumsy and weak.

• Pessimist: After several years of dedicated effort and regular training, I still can’t do these exercises. The hours and dollars spent are a waste. I’ll never get there; give up. (My inner pessimist isn’t just negative, she’s also dramatic. Especially when she’s tired.)
• Optimist: Though my right side may not yet be as strong as I need it to be, my left side has come a long way. I no longer have to make accommodations for my shoulder in daily life and I can most always meet my instructor’s demands in the gym.

Instead of languishing in a state of dejection over the weakness in my right side, I made the conscious decision to see the strength of my left side – if only because of the contrast. To look on the bright side — as any optimist worth her sunny disposition would say — is the right side.

In this case, however, the bright side was the left.

[Tweet “Allow the negative thought to become a contrast that highlights the positive. #thinkonthesethings #write31days “]

How about you? Do you have a weakness (literal or metaphorical) you could use as contrast to see a strength — one that perhaps your pessimistic mind doesn’t naturally dwell on? Let’s hear it, gang. Add your thoughts in the comments below.

P.S. I saw something praiseworthy today (Phil 4:8): I watched my daughter complete her cross country season in the district meet. Her effort this year put a lot of miles on her shoes (pictured above) and hopefully a smile on God’s face (Colossians 3:23). It sure put a smile on mine.

This post is part of a 31 day series entitled “Think on these things: Learning optimism.” For a full catalog of all the posts, visit the first page in the series by clicking here.