As socially beings, humans thrive we are supported both physically and emotionally. Yet, our brains can get in the way of receiving the positive. As humans, we have a trait within our brains to emphasize seeing the negative in our experiences. It is called the negativity bias. It probably helped us survive extreme situations over thousands of years. It probably helped us focus to find food, build shelter and protect each other. Yet if we stay in this mode of emphasizing the negative we roll into unending stress. Our endocrine system sending out adrenaline constantly, eventually harms us. Plus, if we do not see the positive in our daily lives, we will not relax and see the resources that we have in our immediate environment. Perceiving only negative elements will cloud our perception to new opportunities.
Here is an exercise to opening to seeing the good in our lives. So the approach is to start simple and let the good sink in.
We have good and rewarding experiences all day. But to help ourselves relax and benefit from them, we need to acknowledge them. Neurologists have found we need to absorb a positive experience for 10 – 20 seconds to receive its benefits. So when you sit in meditation, bring to mind something of pleasure, joy or support that happened to you today. Then breathe into the memory for 20 seconds. Fully embody the memory. Let it affect your mind and body. Feel how the good relaxes us and lets us be open to the next moment.
