So much goodness
The human brain may seem to be wired to focus on possible threats, what’s wrong, and what is lacking. This tendency may have been a survival skill when humans live in more physically precarious environments.
But now, for the most part, this bias works against our happiness and well-being. It leads us to focus on what we don’t want and makes us fearful. We may actively seek out bad news and revel in it, feeling it justifies our pessimism. We lose, to an extent, our ability to appreciate life just as it is.
We can retrain our brain by consciously focusing on and savoring positive events. “I woke up feeling healthy today. Let me savor that for a minute.” “My lunch was especially tasty. I’ll engrave the sensations into my memory.” “I had a great conversation with an old friend. My, wasn’t that wonderful.”
And these are just a few minor miracles that most of us experience every day. When the major miracles occur—birth of a child, cancer remission, becoming debt free, marriage, career advancement—we’ll want to celebrate in a deliberate and protracted way. It helps to reinforce the positive experience circuits in our brain vigorously.
With time and practice, we can redirect our brains to focus on what is good and pleasurable. We may be surprised to find that there is far more good going on in our lives than bad.
Today’s message reminds me to take conscious note of what’s going right on a regular daily basis. My life is as good as I allow myself to perceive it to be.
Please reflect and share. Do you succeed at focusing on the good?