I'm comin' at ya today with a bit of science - but if you're anything like me, you'll be fascinated with the facts and curious about the possibility that lies ahead...
Did you know that your brain is wired to dwell on negative events more than positive ones?!
It's called negativity bias and it means we feel the sting of an insult way more than we feel the joy of a compliment. It's also why we're more likely to stew on the trauma than the beautiful moments we're presented with daily.
It's the times when we can't sleep and we're stuck contemplating that time we forgot deodorant... and it showed (*ahem* smelled). Or the time we thought we were doing good parenting by teaching our kid to use a lighter and realized we can never, ever, take that lesson back...
Historically, paying attention to what was bad and dangerous is what kept us alive. Those who were more attuned to danger were more likely to survive. This meant they were also more likely to hand down the genes that made them more attentive to danger.
...and we've got those genes!
Here's where it gets real interesting...
Negativity bias can play a role in your motivation to pursue a goal.
Rather than focusing on what you will gain if you work towards your goal, you're more likely to dwell on what you might lose in order to achieve that goal. As in, you want somethin' but know it'll take some work, so you step back thinking "I don't want to do this work and lose my Friday evenings" (even if the goal would create more free time in the end).
Back to what I touched on last week (read it here if you like)...
Our brains are entirely malleable.
Sure, they’ll always be a tad bit inclined towards seeking out things that are dangerous (thank you, survival mechanism) but you are completely capable of rewiring that bias.
It’s called neural plasticity and it works best when you create new stories to rewrite your old stories. The book "The Brain That Changes Itself" is a great reference for more on this phenomenon, but to summarize, you can change your brain!
I've helped many women make this leap in my Unleash Your Legacy Program and it all comes down to dedication, desire and leaning into support. You can get a gym membership, but if you don't go and actually workout, you simply won't see the change you desire.
Will it mean you'll need to try walking barefoot on hot coals to truly see your power?
No. (Although that was a great experience! More on that in a future email...)
It starts with a desire to create a change in our story.
So go ahead and take that first step... dream up all of your desires and get clear on what changes you'd like to make. Don't let Negativity Bias get in your way amidst this dreaming. Instead, stay with "what do I want?" until a clear answer surfaces and then write down your desires.
Tune in next week to find out the next step with this neural plasticity stuff ok? And in the meantime, if you’d like to work directly with me on rewiring your brain, connect with me!