Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get caught up in what’s wrong with the world or with others? It’s almost automatic. We see a coworker make a mistake and immediately point it out. We hear a rumor and assume the worst. We turn on the news and get pulled into anger or fear. But here’s the truth: What we look for, we will find.

Growing up, I loved the phrase, “Look for the good.” It sounds simple, almost too simple. But it’s transformational. When we intentionally look for the good in others, we give ourselves a gift. We get to shift our mindset, soften our judgment, and see people not as problems to be solved, but as stories to be cherished.

Think of the person who interrupted you or seemed distracted in a meeting. Instead of assuming they’re rude or disengaged, what if they’re quietly battling something heavy? Maybe they didn’t sleep because of a sick child. Maybe they’re worried about someone they love.

The act of looking for the good doesn’t mean ignoring the bad, it means choosing not to let negativity be the default lens. When we train ourselves to see the strengths, efforts, and intentions of others, we build bridges. We create connection. And we honor the humanity in each other.

A powerful question to keep close is: What else could be true? Rather than assuming the worst, ask yourself… what good might be hiding just beneath the surface?

When you catch yourself being critical, take a deep breath. Pause. Shift the story. Choose to see the good. Encourage it. Speak it. You might just change someone’s day and your own. Because at the end of the day, we are what we look for. Let’s be seekers of good. Let’s rewrite the story.