"The goal is not to simply eliminate the bad, but to pursue and experience the best in the world."

The heart of the idea here is about shifting our focus. Instead of merely trying to get rid of negative aspects in our lives, we should aim to embrace and strive toward the most amazing experiences the world has to offer. It's about having a positive and proactive mindset, rather than a defensive or reactive one.

Historically, this quote could be connected to the philosophy of positive psychology, which emerged around the late 1990s. Positive psychology is all about helping people lead fulfilling lives, not just treating mental illness. It's about building on what is good in life rather than just fixing what’s wrong.

Imagine you’ve got a garden. You could spend all your time pulling out weeds, making sure there’s nothing bad growing there. But if you don’t plant any flowers, you’ll just have a patch of dirt. Instead, if you focus on planting vibrant, beautiful flowers, the weeds will have less space to grow, and your garden will be a place you actually enjoy.

To put it into a real-life scenario, think about your work environment. You could spend your time and energy trying to avoid mistakes and minimize conflicts. Sure, that’s part of the job, but it can leave you feeling drained and uninspired. Alternatively, you could focus on what excites you about your work—pursuing projects that you’re passionate about, collaborating with colleagues who inspire you, and learning new skills. When you're engaged in these positive pursuits, the negative aspects often become background noise.

How can you apply this to your own life? Start by identifying what brings you joy, what makes you feel alive and fulfilled. Maybe it's painting, hiking, writing, or spending time with loved ones. Whatever it is, make space for it. Prioritize these activities instead of getting stuck in a cycle of just avoiding the bad stuff.

Let's get more concrete with a story. Think about Sarah, who’s always been a bit of a worrier. She spends hours making sure everything is perfect at her job, double-checking emails, and avoiding any slight mistake. It’s exhausting. One day, her friend invites her to a pottery class. Sarah’s hesitant—she’s never tried it and is afraid she’ll be terrible at it. But she goes anyway. The first class is a mess, clay everywhere and lopsided bowls. But she’s having fun. She keeps going, every week. She starts to notice that she's more relaxed at work, more willing to take risks, and even more creative. By focusing on something she loves and is passionate about, she’s inadvertently improved other areas of her life.

So, what’s the takeaway? Don’t just aim to avoid the negative. Fill your life with the positive. Pursue your passions. Embrace what you love. It’ll make the bad stuff easier to handle and less significant in the grand scheme of things. Think about it next time you’re overwhelmed with trying to fix everything that’s wrong—maybe it’s time to add more of what’s right instead.