Overcoming our Negativity Bias and Building an Optimistic Mindset
Mandy Napier BSC
?? Helping Entrepreneurs, Professionals & Athletes Achieve Extraordinary Results & Peak Performance ?? Executive Coach ?? High-Performance Mindset Coach ?? Breakthrough Results Coach ?? Speaker Educator ??Author
Why are we so good at picking out what we didn't do or where we fell short?
Did you know we have around 180 biases that we view the world through??What makes them particularly intriguing is that they often operate on an unconscious level, influencing our thoughts and actions without us even realising it.
How Our Lenses Shape?Success and Wellbeing
Imagine for a moment that each one of us possesses a set of unique lenses, called 'Perception Lenses,'?which come in various filters and colours. They?act as the filters through which we see the world, influencing our perceptions and responses to different situations, conversations, and contexts.
We have been using 'Perception Lenses' for a long time without even realising it. Sometimes,?they can be beneficial, and help us gain insights to?navigate life's complexities. However, frequently, they distort our thinking, cloud our judgement, and lead us to make sweeping generalisations.
As we explore our "Perception Lenses," we become more aware of how they shape our views and influence our actions.
One of the most common biases?is our negativity bias
Our negativity bias originally served as a survival mechanism, helping us avoid threats and dangerous situations.?
Today, however, it can lead us to focus too much on risks and failures, which can stop us from making decisions that lead to growth and new opportunities.
Furthermore, this bias is often why we speak unkindly to ourselves, or judge others.?So, it makes sense to focus on spotting and changing this bias.
How to spot your unconscious negativity biases and change them
1. Get curious and become aware of what you say when you respond to certain situations. Awareness is the first step to change, and curiosity is a helpful lens. Next, develop the habit of questioning your thoughts.
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2. Challenge your assumptions and question the throwaway comments you tend to make in specific circumstances. Do these thoughts?help you move forward, are they pointed at someone else, and are they necessary?
3. Identify three alternative interpretations of all negative experiences. Select the meaning that feels?the most positive and helpful.
4. Finally, focus on developing a habit of?noting your small wins throughout the day.
"When we take time to notice the things that go right - it means we're getting a lot of little rewards throughout the day." Martin Seligman
When you specifically look for small wins, it's like changing to a better pair of lenses. Lenses that help you see what you did well.
Just like compound interest, the small wins accumulate and build into positive feelings, which eventually create an overall positive and optimistic mindset.
Martin Seligman, often called the?'father of positive psychology,?has written extensively about optimism, positivity and learned helplessness. His research?suggests that the way we explain positive and negative events can significantly impact our overall well-being and success in life.?
Optimistic people tend to have better mental health and handle stress better. They are more persistent in facing challenges, more resilient and have a more adaptive mindset.
Noting your small wins and changing perspectives is a good habit for staying strong during difficult and changing times, grabbing new opportunities and ensuring your continued growth and success.
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1 年Writing down what you are grateful for is linked to greater feelings of optimism.