One of my best friends from high school once pointed out how I like to think about my thoughts.
He’s right. I like to think about my memories too. And in both cases, I often misinterpret and misremember. I’m often wrong.
But, as it turns out, that’s not a bad thing. I tend to put a positive glow around everything in my head; that’s how the BrightSide came to be. I turned optimism into a profession.
Memories aren’t linear. They pop up out of nowhere. They’re driven by feelings, like dreams. And they’re incomplete; they have to be. We only see a few high points (or lows).
It’s like we’re constantly playing connect-the-dots in our heads. And it’s inevitable we’ll leave some dots out, so it’s just a question of which ones. With practice, collecting only good thoughts becomes second nature.
I thought that was the best way.
But just as being right doesn’t lead to happiness, ignoring the dark spots causes you to circle them forever.
The most important thing to remember is not where all the bright spots are or how to avoid the dark ones; it’s to recognize that you’re not seeing all the dots. Like all of us, lost in our own psychology, your collection of memories, your life’s work of ruminating thoughts, is incomplete.
Turn your head, trade in your monologue, or just wait for the world to spin around a few more times. And, for God’s sakes don’t close those beautiful eyes of yours.
You’ll see new constellations.