"In this time of reflection, we may also find ourselves getting stuck on the negatives, what isn't working, what might go wrong, or where we feel behind. Our brains are hardwired to focus on the negative. That negativity bias exists to keep us safe, and while there is a healthy time to acknowledge what's not working, it can also pull us into overthinking and catastrophizing if we're not careful."
"Practicing gratitude can help us redirect our attention to all that is already good and present in our lives. There is a large body of research demonstrating the positive psychological and physiological benefits of practicing gratitude. By focusing intentionally on what you have versus what you don't have, what you can do versus what you can't do, and the present where you have the most agency, you very well may find yourself in a place of abundance and action."
As seasons shift, people often slow down to reflect on the year's challenges, supports, and habits. Reflection can lead to focusing on negatives due to the brain's negativity bias, which evolved to keep people safe but can cause overthinking and catastrophizing. Intentionally noticing moments of joy, goodness, or possibility trains attention to find positives as well. Practicing gratitude redirects attention to what is present and available, supporting psychological and physiological benefits documented by research. Gratitude does not erase hardship but strengthens the body's capacity to hold onto good and steadies people when they feel unsteady, exhausted, or dysregulated.
Read at Psychology Today
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