By Monica Zollinger

Every situation or circumstance we find ourselves in is neither good nor bad. It just is. Nothing we experience is fundamentally positive or negative—until we assign meaning to it. When we feel frustrated or upset by a person or a situation, it’s important to remember: we’re not reacting to the person or the circumstance, but to our thoughts and feelings about them. We tell ourselves a story, and that story determines whether we see something as good or bad.

This is the essence of the Law of Relativity—the idea that things are only “big” or “small,” “hard” or “easy,” “good” or “bad,” in relation to something else. Just like in physics, where an object’s velocity or momentum is always measured in reference to another object, our life experiences are shaped by how we compare them to other moments in our lives. There’s no absolute frame of reference—only the lens we choose to look through.

This law is powerful because it helps us keep good thoughts in our mind. Gratitude becomes the key. When we choose to see blessings—even in our challenges—we open the door to peace, strength, and healing. Want better circumstances? Start by finding gratitude and peace right where you are. Appreciate what you already have, and you create space for more to come.

Let me share a personal example.

When my son was 20, he was charged with some serious crimes. He had just figured out what he wanted to do with his life, was in school, and was one of the kindest, most loving kids you’d ever meet. But he struggled with the need for approval from friends, and one bad decision changed everything. His friends turned on him, and he ended up serving six years in prison.

It was one of the hardest experiences of my life. I wanted to blame everyone—his friends, the police, the court system. But during my time at Genius Bootcamp, I had a breakthrough: The situation is what it is. I realized I had to stop resisting it, stop replaying the “why,” and instead accept it, so I could move forward in peace.

And that’s when the blessings started becoming visible.

The judge allowed him to finish the school year and earn his Associate Degree in Math before reporting. While in prison, he earned a second degree in Business. He made a friend who stayed by his side the entire time. They were moved to a facility closer to us so we could visit more often. And when he got out, more blessings followed. Doors began to open. Gratitude helped us keep our hearts soft and hopeful, and that attitude made space for healing and progress.

This is how the Law of Relativity works for us. When we approach hardship with the right mindset—when we trust God and choose gratitude—we find strength we didn’t know we had.

It reminds me of the old story about the two brothers:
One was a pessimist, the other an optimist.
To teach them a lesson, their father gave the pessimist a room full of new toys. But instead of being happy, he complained that they would all break.
He gave the optimist a room full of manure. When the father went to check on him, he couldn’t even find him in the pile. “Son, are you okay?”
From deep inside the mess, the boy shouted, “Yeah, Dad! With all this manure, there’s gotta be a horse in here somewhere!”

That’s the spirit of the Law of Relativity.

Gratitude gives us the power to move through challenges with grace. We don’t have to like the hard things—but if we trust that God has our best interest at heart, and we let go of blame, defense, and resistance, we can begin to see those hard things as setups for something greater.

When we do this, we create the ability to respond creatively and resourcefully to what’s happening right now. We become like a reed that bends in the storm, but doesn’t break. We begin to recognize that every challenge contains the seed of an opportunity.

So live in the moment. Choose gratitude. Trust God’s timing and His plan.

And little by little, you’ll begin to experience more joy, more peace, more freedom—and more fulfillment—than ever before.

_________________

•   To discover how to start choosing more effectively now, read The Jackrabbit Factor (FREE!)  
•   If you want more step-by-step guidance on creating the life you really want, join me in the Mindset Mastery program.
•   If you want my help overcoming that giant obstacle right in front of you, learn more and sign up for Genius Bootcamp.