IMAGE: EMMA HEPBURN, FROM ‘A TOOLKIT FOR HAPPINESS’
Your attention is pulled towards threat, and negative information demands your attention. Let’s take a random – ahem – example of an author who just happened to be a psychologist: even if you get hundreds of five-star reviews, you will be pulled towards that one one-star review. The negativity will sometimes fill your attention. The same applies to everyday life: you’ll mull over that one negative comment about your work, when you had twenty positive ones. Don’t beat yourself up even more for doing this – it’s a natural brain process. Some research even suggests that all events aren’t created equal: we need a ratio of around five positive events to one negative event to make us feel good. Let’s step back, notice what is demanding your attention, and think about creating a fair way to distribute your attention and help your brain notice the stuff that will make you feel far, far better. Here are some ways to help your brain notice the positive, which you might want to consider adding as tools for your happiness sandwich. Everyone is different, so see what works for you.