Savoring the positive can rewire the brain

Have you noticed that regardless of whether you receive a slew of compliments and only one criticism from someone, the criticism is what typically sticks? Or that after a driver cuts you off on the freeway, you suddenly feel like you’re in that "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" movie? And that despite that the Airbnb you were staying in had clean towels and other amenities, you got worked up because you couldn't find a strainer in the kitchen! I mean, what kind of Airbnb doesn’t provide a strainer for their guests?! (Sorry, TMI.)

Seriously though, our tendency to become alert to negative events is referred to in clinical psychology as negativity bias. Negativity bias was a survival technique that was actually helpful tens of thousands of years ago, allowing us to fight off saber toothed tigers and other grizzly threats. Back in the day, it kept us alive, but today it can have a more debilitating effect on our well being.

One way to counter this human inclination is to SAVOR the positive events that occur in our lives. Part of that process is being mindful and noticing the positive events as they occur. Savor those compliments, the more neighborly drivers or that comfortable bed you slept on at your Airbnb. How do you do that? What helps this process is being mindful and noticing the positive events as they occur. Slow down your response to the positive event. Use your breath as a tool. Literally, inhale it in. Allow it to fill you up and penetrate your neural wiring. And remember it's a practice. So expect it to feel clunky at first! You need to intentionally do this for a while before it becomes automatic.