Wisdom in the Tangents Photography Podcast 118. Positivity Mindset Hacks with John Mansfield
John shares a few ways you can train yourself and your brain to create a more positive outlook on life, and attract more positivity from your surroundings.
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If Only and At Least
When we look at the past, we often will say things like “If only this had happened,” or “If Only I had done this thing,” the outcome would have been better.
A positive way of looking back is not saying “If only” but saying “At Least.” “At Least I was able to do this thing or things could have been worse.”
Our brains have a network called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and this does a few things for us, one of which is it filters how we view the world. Some RAS lean more toward the negative, and some to the positive. When you are faced with a circumstance, it’ll get filtered one way or the other, which is why some people tend to focus on the negative aspects of their circumstances, while others always seem to see that silver lining.
You can train you RAS to filter more positively but doing a few things. Speaking positivity to yourself. Positive affirmations can train your brain to see those positive things first. It’s like when you buy a new car, and suddenly you start to see that model of car everywhere. That’s the RAS filtering toward that model of car because you’re brain is aware of it’s importance now.
Elyse Myers shared how when she looks at a photo of herself, she usually sees all the imperfections, but she has trained herself to at least say one positive thing about the photo. Even if it’s just that she likes the clothes she’s wearing in it.
Another way to train your brain is to write down those affirmations. People who write down goals are 42% more likely to achieve those goals.
In episode 70, Shaun Austin spoke about how he reframes things he “has” to do, into things he “gets” to do. Having to do things feels more like an obligation, while Getting to do things feels more like a privilege.
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What am I loving?
Taking the family to sporting events. Basketball and Baseball in particular.
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