Stress Awareness Month: Tip #6

Human brains have evolved over time to be biased toward the negative.  This means we tend to pay more attention to negative stimuli because it is how our ancestors were able to protect themselves (i.e., fight, flight, or freeze response) from threats (i.e., predators).  This trait is still within us and manifests through tendencies like remembering negative things more than positive things or putting more weight into criticism than complements we receive. 

This is where positive affirmations come in.  Affirmations are positive statements that we can use to influence ourselves—more specifically our brains—to look more optimistically at ourselves and our lives.  If we make an effort to focus on positive thoughts then those neural networks in our brain will get stronger making it more likely we will think more positively.  It is like exercising a muscle.  Fixate on negative thoughts and we think negatively.  Reinforce positive thoughts then we will think more positively.  

Remember, mindset is everything.  What you think, you will certainly become.  Think positive!