Your brain is so much better at focusing on
survival than it is on focusing on being happy, and it's because of this fact that your brain
is constantly scanning for threats. It's trying to pick out, or notice anything bad, dangerous,
or negative, instead of looking for the positive, or dwelling on the good things that
happen in your life. Your brain's default setting is to keep you alive, by really paying attention
to anything really threatening or dangerous. This focus on survival was imperative to our
ancestors, but in today's world, if left unchecked, it can lead to stress, burnout, and depression,
but I have good news, there's a simple way to combat this challenge of focusing on the
negative, and to turn up the volume of the positive things in your life. So, stick around,
because in this video I'll teach you how to fight burnout, and feel happier. It takes just
two minutes a day, and thanks to our sponsor, Take Two Minutes, it's easier than ever to
get it done. Okay, so like I said before, our brain is hardwired hardwired for survival. Which means it's hardwired to notice threats, and to
notice the negative. The negative grabs our attention, while the positive waits for us
to notice. When we just run along in "default mode", this can make us feel depressed, and exhausted.
So here's the super simple way to rewire your brain, it's called: The 3 Good Things Exercise.
For two weeks, before you go to bed, ask yourself 'What are three good things that went well
today, and what was my role in making them happen?', and then just be sure to write them down.
So, for example, yesterday, I had a fairly difficult day, it's winter here, it's cold, and dreary,
it's really difficult to get outside with the kids, and with covid, we can't take them to
play places, or to see very many friends. So basically, it was another entire day, couped
up in the house, with three super energetic kids, and there may have been some tantrums,
and I may have yelled at the kids, and it's just tough sometimes. Anyways, when I sit down,
and think of three good things, it sounds like this: I got to sit on the floor and make a
cool sticker puzzle with my three year old, and she really enjoyed it. Plus, she was practicing
her numbers, and she was being quiet during church, so that was really nice bonding time
with her. Number two is: I got to make earrings with my six year old, and it's really fun to
make things with her, especially without the two little kids. And then, number three: we had
a crazy "wrestle mania" with all the kids in the living room, and that got some wiggles
out, and the girls laughed, and screamed a lot, and so that was really fun. And that's it,
that's all there is to it, and when I do it, I feel better, and the amazing result is that
research shows that within four to five days, reflecting on the positive leads to noticing more positive.
The positive things in your life, and those feelings of happiness, and contentment, just
keep growing, and it's like that positive just gets louder. Clinical trials show that people who
do this for fourteen days, have less burnout, and depression, a better work-life balance,
less conflict at school, or work, and a higher level of happiness, and the really cool thing
is that the results from those fourteen days can last for six months, or more. So, this exercise,
for just two weeks, can impact you for almost a half a year or more, and it just takes two
minutes a day, so how cool is that, right? Now, I think the biggest barrier to doing an activity
like this, is that it's easy to forget to do it, but that's where Take Two Minutes comes
in. What they do, is they send you a text message every day, at the time you choose. This message
not only pulls you from your routine to think about your three good things, but it also
includes a link to a page where you can enter three good things instantly, instead of having
to find a pen, and paper, and then once you complete your entries, they'll store your answers in your
personal private journal, which you can easily access at any time to review, and reflect on.
It's super easy. Seriously though, this activity is so powerful, and Take Two makes it so easy
to do it. They are sponsoring this video, which I am grateful for, but I also seriously love
their service. You can find them by texting JOIN to this number below, or by visiting
take2minutes.org. They also have guided meditations, an easy gratitude journal, and some great resources
to help you with anxiety, and sleep, and other stuff. So, it's that easy. Every night before
you go to bed, think of three good things that happened to you, and what you did to bring
them about. I would love to hear what your three good things are. Leave yours down in the comments
section below. Thanks you for watching, and take care.
