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Wishing you Joyful Moments this Holiday Season
By Judi Magee, Resident since 2014
www.BlackhawkLivingCA.com
It’s the busy holiday season with so many things to do that we often miss the opportunity to enjoy the time. Our brains operate under a negativity bias that holds onto anything unpleasant that happens, to protect us from what might happen in the future. Crowded stores, over-committing, family dynamics, too much to do, and unrealistic expectations all bring a wealth of experiences to dwell on (and on) about in a negative way. Is there a way or override our thinking and re-train our brains to focus more on the joyful moments?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s capacity to learn and change itself. Repeated and prolonged positive experiences can change the way the brain works. Dr. Rick Hanson, Ph.D. and neuropsychologist is a leader in this field and states, “There’s an expression in neuroscience: Neurons that fire together wire together.” So all those cycles you spend in replaying everything that went wrong or might go wrong, become well-worn paths in your brain, but by bringing your awareness to present joyful moments, and savoring those moments, for at least ten seconds, new patterns or pathways are created.
Dr. Hanson suggests that, “The remedy is not to suppress negative experiences; when they happen, they happen. Rather, it is to foster positive experiences—and in particular, to take them in so they become a permanent part of you.”
Happy Holidays!
Resource Hanson, Rick (2009) Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom
Judi Magee, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach with a Masters in Health and Wellness Coaching from Maryland University of Integrative Health.
