Everywhere we look in the world we see things “going to hell in a hand basket” because it gets views, clicks, headlines, sells advertising and makes money.
It’s a bummer that things going well doesn’t generate nearly the BUZZ in our culture as distasteful deeds, disaster and destruction. It also is a self-fulfilling thought cycle.
OUR BRAIN SAYS: “I’ve been told things are very bad—so I will vigilantly look for ways to confirm this bias over and over.”
Whatever we choose to give the most attention to is what will grow and grow and dominate our thoughts.
Can you imagine if our news and political discussion every day/all day was filled with stories of remarkable acts of generosity, compromise and courage?
Of course there are times in our lives when very challenging events and situations require a lot of thought and energy. However, if we stay in that place when we things have settled down—it will no doubt adversely affect our health and our relationships.
So, why do it? We all get addicted to ways of thinking…just like any other addiction. Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick fix for long practiced patterns of thought. However, if we start to notice we just might be able to self correct this negative pattern of thinking a little tiny bit at a time. If we all try focusing on the good things in our a lives a tiny bit more—we might just start a thought revolution.
Hey, it’s worth a shot, huh?
