Posted 1/20/2014 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
The following is taken from a very good book: "Hardwiring Happiness" by Rick Hanson Phd
"Your brain was wired in such a way... primed to learn quickly from the bad... but not so much from the good...".
"Having a brain wired to take in the bad and ignore the good makes us worried, irritated and stressed...Each day is filled with opportunities to build inner strengths but he brain is designed to ignore and waste them. This makes you come down harder on yourself... feel inadequate... feel lonely even when support is all around you."
"'Hardwiring Happiness' lay out a simple method that uses the hidden power of everyday experiences to build new neural structures that attract happiness, love, confidence, and peace. Dr Hanson's four steps build a brain strong enough to withstand its ancient negativity bias."
"...when's the last time you stopped.... to feel and take in one of the positive moments that happen in even the most hectic day? if you don't take those extra seconds to enjoy and stay with the experience, it passes through you like wind through the trees, momentarily pleasant but with no lasting value."
"This book is about... the hidden power of everyday positive experiences to change your brain - and... you life... for the better. I'll show you how to turn good moments into a great brain full of confidence, ease, comfort, self-worth and feeling cared about. These are not million dollar moments. They're simply the cozy feeling of a favorite sweater, pleasure in a cup of coffee, warmth from a friends, satisfaction after finishing a task, or love from your mate. A few times a day... you'll learn how to take in the good, which will naturally grown more joy, calm, and strength inside you... This is about transforming fleeting experiences into lasting improvement in your neural net worth."
"...the brain evolved a negativity bias that makes it like Velco for bad experiences but Teflon for good ones... you'll learn which positive experiences can meet your three essential needs for SAFETY, SATISFACTION AND CONNECTION. As you build up inner peace, contentment and love... you'll increasingly enjoy a sense of wellness that's unconditional...".
"Your brain is the most important organ in your body and what happens in it determines what you think, feel, say and do".
"...I'll give you an overview of how you brain wokrs, why you need to take charge of it and how you can come home to your wonderful nature....I'll show you many effective ways to tak in the good and become really skillful at this practice.... I've distilled them down to four simple steps with the acronym HEAL:
1. Have a positive experience
2. Enrich it
3. Absorb it
4. Link positive and negative (optional).
"..you'll learn many practical... ways... to notice or create positive experiences and weave them into your mind, your brain and your life.
"I am delighted to be able to share this powerful practice with you and if you'd like to learn more about it, please see the freely offered resources at www.RickHanson.net."
If you are interested in more, you might want to borrow the book Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson Phd from your local library, like I did. Or purchase it, if you are wealthier than me :). I haven't checked out the website yet... will do so tomorrow... its bedtime for me now :) Enjoy your Monday, as mine comes to a close xo