The Power of a Positivity Bias

Thoughts on embracing a positivity bias. Many things in today’s world can be a source of frustration, sadness, and anger. Thanks to the 24-hour news cycle, and the constant barrage of updates from social media, one could very quickly see nothing but clouds without silver linings.

Here’s the good news: that is a?choice. It’s one that we don’t have to make. I’d go so far as to say it’s a choice we?cannot?make if we want to be happy, healthy, and successful.

The other choice, and the better one? Approaching life with a bias towards positivity.

Why have a positivity bias?

I’ll start with the obvious. Looking for the good will make you a happier person. Your quality of life will improve.

We tend to see what we look for. You will see more of it when you’re looking for the good. Appreciating more of the good things around you will inevitably make you happier.

If experiencing more happiness isn’t enough, I’ll give you another reason. You’ll also have better results in your life and your work.

People who approach life with a bias towards positivity see opportunities more than they see challenges. They see disagreements with other people as constructive rather than destructive. They see obstacles to be overcome instead of insurmountable hurdles or impenetrable brick walls. Instead of saying, “We can’t,” they’re more likely to ask, “How can we?”.

People who approach their work in this way achieve better results. They’re more successful.

Isn’t positivity a bit naive?

If you think that always looking for the good is unrealistic or “Pollyannaish,” you’re not alone. But bear with me.

Evolutionarily speaking, our brains are wired to look out for bad stuff. Being able to spot the risks and the dangers is what keeps us alive as a species. And that’s what’s problematic about the world today. Our brains were originally wired this way to spot the occasional saber-toothed tiger before it spotted us. But now we’re?constantly?bombarded by negative, scary, and bad news.

We no longer need to be constantly alert to ensure our survival. We now have the choice to rewire our brains. To choose to live happier, more successful lives.

I promise that in doing so, you won’t lose your ability to spot risks and dangers and respond to them accordingly. Your brain has millennia of evolution to keep you alert to the bad. Over time, we also learn to prioritize reactions needed for survival, like preventing an auto accident. Noticing the good is the hard part. It takes intention and practice.

How to develop a bias for positivity

Ultimately the goal is for this to be as natural as breathing. Without the work, without deliberation, just living in a new way. One which notices the good in your life and invites more of it.

But as Stephen R. Covey’s?Seven Habits of Highly Effective People ?advises, changing our behaviors means developing new habits, unlearning old ones, and replacing them with new ones.

If you want to strengthen this muscle and develop a bias towards positivity, I recommend two tactics.

Create a daily ritual

Take some time every single day to find the good. You might take this time in the morning to ask yourself the three things you’re most looking forward to in the day ahead. Or you could do this in the evening, listing the three best things that happened that day. Doing both is also an option. It might be enough for you to meditate about these thoughts or to speak them out loud. If you’re inclined to write, though, I highly recommend daily journaling. I do this. It’s important to keep it easy and straightforward to make it more likely to happen. I created a year-by-year page in One Note with a list of dated templates that I copy and paste, edit the date, and fill in. Here’s a screenshot from earlier this month. It’s both broad stroke and shorthand, but it helps.

Use negativity as a trigger

Using old habits to develop new ones can be very effective. They’re like a foundation, an existing framework, on which to build something new.

Notice your thoughts and feelings when something “negative” happens during the day.

If you’ve had a difficult interaction with someone, you might be criticizing them in your head. Flip the script. Think about one thing you appreciate about them.

If you experience a setback in a work project, you might think critically about yourself and your performance or the tools and information you had to work with. Choose to think differently. Come up with one thing you learned through the setback and give yourself due credit for learning and growing professionally.

The power of positivity

Imagine how it can feel to live your life noticing the good around you and appreciating the best in the people and situations you encounter. You’ll be happier and healthier in both body and mind. In turn, you’ll experience more of the success and prosperity you want. And that is my wish for you.

Additional Resources

PositivePsychology.com:?Pollyanna Principle: The Psychology of Positivity Bias

InsightTimer Blog:?Cultivating A Positivity Bias By Taking In What’s Good

JimNewcomb.com:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People blogs

Positive Thoughts

Resources

Last week’s blog, in case you missed it:?Offboarding

[Jim Newcomb has been a Senior Recruiting Partner with?Goodwin Recruiting ?since 2013, 2016 Partner of the Year, 2017 Ambassador of the Year, 2018 Extensive Support Coach of the Year, 2020 created Daily Positive Thoughts, and 2021 created JimNewcomb.com website for consistent contribution.]

#powerofpositivity #insighttimer #positivepsychology #positivitybias #jimnewcomb