Take in the good.
Every day, we easily notice things to be stressed, worried, or upset about. That’s part of negativity bias, which has helped us survive and evolve as a species. So it can be harder to notice the good things in our everyday experience…but we can train ourselves to do it. That results in a positive upward spiral, which increases our enjoyment of life.
Today (and hopefully every day), I invite you to take a moment to notice something good about your experience in the moment. It might be the warmth of the sunshine, the smile of a friend, the taste of your morning coffee, or the sound of laughter from a loved one. Notice how each of these involves the senses in some way. If you have an abundance of riches and have to choose between several good things to notice, choose one that has a sensory aspect. Take a moment to enjoy the look, taste, smell, sound or sensation of it. Take a deep breath and allow that feeling to sink in. You’ve now given your brain neurons something positive to do! This is powerful, because as the saying among neuroscientists goes, “neurons that fire together, wire together.” If you want to increase the positive effects, try doing this once an hour, or between classes or meetings. The more, the better.
Happy Monday!