In today’s world, our brain’s fight-or-flight mechanism is overworked. People are conditioned to focus on negativity and seek out bad news, which can negatively affect both physical and mental health. If this sounds like you, rather than continuing down this path, there is a short two-minute practice you can add to your morning routine that will help change the way you think and improve your day!
Do This Two-Minute Morning Practice
The human brain contains what’s called an amygdala. This is what’s responsible for secreting hormones for fight-or-flight. While the amygdala helps find and solve problems, it’s also responsible for making us focus on news that’s sad, bad, or controversial.
To help retrain your brain, grab a blank piece of paper or index card and choose a time each day to write the following things:
I Will Focus On …
The first phrase you will write is “I will focus on,” and then list the things that are the most pressing. There’s no doubt that your to-do list is a mile long, so the goal here is to make the list more manageable.
Teaching yourself to focus on only the most important tasks each day will make you more productive.
I Am Grateful For …
Think of expressing gratitude as an exercise for your brain. With this step, you will have to be specific. Don’t simply list things such as my job, family, dog, etc. Instead, write down things such as “my friend who accompanied me to an important doctor’s appointment,” or “the way the sun rises over the ocean.”
I Will Let Go Of …
This is perhaps the most important part. If you continue to carry anger, resentment, and disdain, it will begin to carry over into other parts of your life. So, each day you’ll add one final line to your index card or paper – “I will let go of.” The point of this is to let go of something that’s been bothering you. For example, “I will let go of the anger I have for my ex,” or “I will let go of the fact that my mother and I don’t get along well.”
While these seem like small, insignificant tasks, the difference you will notice is unbelievable. Will you be cured of all negativity and have a perfect life? No. However, you will be happier and healthier in the long run. If you’d like to read more about this, check out the original article from the Harvard Business Review.