By Emily Clawson

As a student of the philosophies of abundance, I’ve learned how important it is to keep a positive outlook on life. I’ve seen that when I think positive thoughts, more positive circumstances tend to come my way. But I’ll be honest—sometimes I really struggle. I know that when I’m stuck in negativity, it slows down or even blocks the things I desire from finding me. And yet, sometimes I just can’t muster up any genuine positive energy.

Have you ever felt that way too?

Let me share something that has helped me.

In Leslie Householder’s book Hidden Treasures: Heaven’s Astonishing Help With Your Money Matters, she talks about seven Laws of Thought that we can use like tools in our toolboxes. Each one helps us in a different way, depending on the challenge we’re facing. The second law—The Law of Relativity—teaches something powerful:

“Nothing we face, no circumstance or event, is fundamentally good or bad unless we compare it to something else.”

When I first heard that, I’ll admit—I was skeptical. I thought, No way. The money problems I’m facing are absolutely bad. But the more I studied, the more it began to make sense.

Early in our marriage, my husband received a surprise bonus—$500 we weren’t expecting. It felt like we were rich! That unexpected check felt amazing because our minds assigned it a positive meaning.

Fast forward a few years. My husband was working for a company that was struggling. One payday, our paycheck came, and it was only $500. Instead of joy, we felt panic. How were we supposed to support our family for two weeks on that?

Same dollar amount. Completely different emotions. Why?

Most people would say the circumstances made the difference. But in truth, it was our perception. We assigned meaning to the $500 based on what we compared it to. In the first case, we compared it to receiving nothing—so it felt like a blessing. In the second case, we compared it to a full paycheck—so it felt like a loss.

That’s the Law of Relativity at work.

So how do you use this law when you’re facing a financial hurdle—or any kind of hardship? You choose what you’re comparing your experience to.

When things feel tough, you can compare your situation to something better and feel worse. Or, you can intentionally compare it to something worse—and suddenly, your own circumstance can start to feel more bearable, even hopeful.

Here’s an example from my own life.

We were going through a brutal financial stretch. Our savings were gone. Bills were piling up. Both our cars were having problems. My husband needed minor surgery that we couldn’t afford—and he would be out of work without pay during his recovery. It felt like we were being hit from every side.

I tried to stay positive, but it felt fake. Eventually, I stopped trying altogether. The stress was just too much.

Then one day, I picked up a book called Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza. It’s the true story of a woman who survived the Rwandan genocide by hiding in a tiny bathroom with six other women—for three months. Her experience and strength shook me to my core. As I thought about the horrors she endured, a single thought kept repeating in my mind:

I get to put my children to bed each night knowing they are safe, fed, comfortable, and warm.

That one thought became my anchor.

It sparked a tiny bit of peace in my heart—and that spark began to grow. I started noticing more things I was grateful for. Even though our financial problems hadn’t changed, something inside of me had. I found joy. Real joy. And with that shift in energy came clarity. I began to see new ways to approach our challenges.

Here’s the thing: the Law of Relativity is a tool, not a trap.

We often use it against ourselves—comparing our lives to someone who seems to have it all together, and then wondering why we feel discouraged and stuck. That’s not what this law is for. When used properly, it helps us gain perspective and shift our emotional state—so we can access the creativity, faith, and peace we need to move forward.

So next time you’re facing something hard, try this:
Pause. Breathe.
And ask yourself, What am I comparing this to?
Then choose a comparison that lifts you.

By learning how to use this law (and the others like it), you can experience peace—even in the middle of chaos. You can feel joy—even before the solution shows up. And your mind will be more open to the answers and miracles that are already trying to find you.

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•   To discover how to start choosing more effectively now, read The Jackrabbit Factor (FREE!)  
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