The Importance of a Focus on The Bright Side of Life When It Comes To Positive Emotions And Happiness
There is more than one thing happening on a regular day that could spoil one’s mood and staying positive is easier said than done. If there happens to be one negative event, suddenly a second unpleasant thing joins this with a third one just waiting around the corner. This matter is not based in the external world. It roots deeply within yourself and is caused by your individual way of perception. This article will tell you about the reason humans tend to fear and stress, what neuroplasticity is and what all of this has to do with your personal Happiness.
Unhappy Brains
One would think that every part of the human body strives to be happy but there is one powerful opponent when it comes to positive emotions and Happiness. Maybe the most powerful of them all – the brain. Our brains are not designed to be happy. From an evolutionary perspective our brains are designed to look for what’s wrong, where is a risk or danger. That way of thinking helped us to survive. Nowadays, we do not face as many fatal risks in our daily life as in the earlier days of humanity. But our brains still fear of predators, so they produce cortisol and adrenalin in situations that feel threatening, leaving us feeling stressed or overwhelmed [1]. Such situations might be a stressful interaction with another person, the media or traffic.
We, therefore, must train our brain to calm our thoughts and establish healthier ways of thinking. Such training changes our neuroplasticity. You could basically say: When your mind changes, your brain changes. Mental activity creates neural structures which allow the brain to work more efficiently whenever a comparable situation appears again. This mechanism is boon and bane at the same time as negative patterns are driven over and over again. On the other hand, one can use this knowledge from neuroscience to create a happier and more successful life. Breaking existing negative patterns and building new positive ones is key in the creation of a happy life. Meditation is one way to do this. Another way is focus – and more specific positive focus.
Ultimately, happiness comes down to choosing between the discomfort of becoming aware of your mental afflictions and the discomfort of being ruled by them.
– Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (Tibetan Buddhism teacher)
A Positive Mindset
A positive mindset is not comparable with rose-coloured glasses. I would rather describe it as self-awareness with the motivation to grow. It notices and accepts the negative but decides to concentrate on what is positive.
Let me take you on a little imaginative journey. Imagine yourself walking to the bus stop. With an eye for all the negative and bothering things in life, you will probably recognise the dirt in the streets, get upset about the graffiti on house walls and why is that sleazy man over there staring at you? His face looks haggard and it seems as he is up to something. Now imagine a smile on your face and a positive mindset. Life suddenly does not seem so hard anymore right? The focus on positive aspects will allow you to see the good wherever you go. You will recognise a little flower making its way through the asphalt slabs or notice the singing birds in the trees. Even the air coming from the notorious pub on your way is not as smelly as it usually is. A sleazy man comes across your way – you smile at him. Surprisedly his face brightens, and you can see the honest appreciation in his eyes.
Focussing on the good things in life will change your neuroplasticity for the better, so it will be easier for you to detect the positive. This will help you to keep up the positive focus and bring you the deep and fulfilled feeling of Happiness. The cycle continues and you will experience the habit of positivity in no time. We know about the difficulties around such lifestyle changes. Setting up a positive mindset is hard, especially when there are heaps of things to care for and worry about. We made that step for you. In our Happiness Challenge™, we developed one task per day for you and your Happiness. We provide you with state-of-the-art knowledge from Neuroscience and Positive Psychology as we committed to your Happiness. We know that changes can be tough if the environment stays the same. Therefore, we gather a striving community of like-minded people who support and inspire each other. Become the happiest version of yourself and join our Happiness Challenge™ now to receive science-backed information and daily missions that make the implementation of a positive mindset simple and effortless.
[1] Hanson, R. (2009). Buddha’s Brain: The practical neuroscience of happiness, love, and wisdom. New Harbinger Publications.