This time of year can be difficult for many people. AIn addition, following one of the more negative and divisive national campaigns in our country's history, many people are disappointed or feeling down. Perhaps about the outcome, but often by how the whole election process unfolded. What to do? I'm reminded of an article I shared a couple of years ago.
Our brains evolved with a "negativity bias" writes neuropsychologist Rick Hanson in Hardwiring Happiness. We are alert for negative information and often over-react, storing the experience in our brain. Unfortunately, too much time in this more reactive state can lead to stress-induced physical ailments, anxiety, dissatisfaction and unhappiness. We are then less able to relate to others with patience, love and compassion.
"Taking in the Good" allows us to re-bias the brain, to use its ability to change (neuroplasticity) to more easily find and learn from positive experiences, and to develop the inner resources that allow us to cope with life's challenges. The result is greater contentment, joy, gratitude, compassion and happiness.
How to do it --
* notice a good experience or fact and allow yourself to consciously feel good about it for ten, twenty, even thirty seconds.
* Really enjoy the experience, letting it fill your senses. Actively intending and sensing it sinking in furthers the impact in the brain.
These can be very ordinary and simple experiences: how good that cup of coffee tastes, the beauty of some aspect of nature, the warm feeling after talking with a friend. (Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time, Rick Hanson, Pd.D., 2001, pp 19-21)
Try it out for yourself...and keep at it. It's like filling a big bucket one drop at a time. With the year coming to a close, it's a perfect time to reflect and grow the good, giving ourselves the gift of less stress in the process.
Oh, and Rick has a free weekly e-letter called Just One Thing. You can sign up here.