I think i have always considered myself a better editor than writer. i love to take things that have good bones and refine them into a masterpiece. whether it is a dance that needs to be cleaned, a resume that needs fine tuning, or a circumstance that needs a silver lining, i believe i have the gift of making it sparkle and shine!✨

recently i have been thinking about how i can use these skills in my everyday life. how do i or can i edit our lives? i found inspiration in an old everybody loves raymond (IYKYK) episode where a wedding Debacle took place but the toast was all about the power of editing-being sure to focus on the good parts.

notice i didn’t say rewrite-i said edit. Editing life doesn’t mean rewriting the moment deleting all the challenges. it is important to keep those moments so that we learn and grow. Our memories shape how we see ourselves, other people and the world around us. they become the stories we replay during quiet moments, influencing our confidence, relationships and expectations. while we can’t erase painful experiences, we do have some influence over which memories we revisit and how much space and power we give them.

It is easy for negative memories to demand our attention. an embarrassing mistake from years ago, a difficult relationship, a harsh comment from someone we care about-these moments are often on repeat in our mind. our brains seem wired to pay attention to these moments as a way of protecting us from future negative incidents. instead of protection though, this process can begin to overshadow all the joyful experiences. life isn’t about forgetting the difficult moments. it’s about remembering they weren’t the whole story.

this week i encourage you to become the editor of your life. this does not mean you press the delete button. it means that you decide which scenes in your life deserve the spotlight. you can intentionally remember lessons learned and focus on positive impacts and results. take a look at the people who supported you, the conversations that went right, the fun and the joy.

What made you smile today? What are you grateful for? What small victory did you experience? who made your day a little bit better?

don’t let the joyful moments take a supporting role in your movie. remember the beautiful sunsets, the compliments, the dinners with friends and family, the laughter. this takes practice but the hope of a more balanced life comes with the practice of editing!