Prisoners of Our Thoughts, 2nd Edition

9Shift Your Focus of Attention

De-reflection can only be attained to the degree to which … awareness is directed toward positive aspects.⁸²

Andy is a former executive with a major software company. He used to make more than $130,000 a year and had a terrific benefits package. He supervised teams of software programmers in several states and had an office overseas. But no more. Like scores of other well-paid, white-collar workers, Andy was laid off and has been unable to find a job that offers the same — or even similar — responsibilities, status, salary, and benefits. Instead, out of desperation, he has found himself grasping at survival jobs offering considerably less.

“Yes, desperate times require desperate measures,” says Andy. He continues, ...