Since the dawn of time, human survival has depended on how well we can avoid danger. This is only one theory of why human brains are set up with a “negative bias.” negative bias is when negative events, emotions, or thoughts are equal in intensity to positive ones but have a more significant effect on our state of mind. Scientific studies have concluded that in our mind, five positive things equal one negative.
To remain positive, scientists actively encourage staying in a state of gratitude. One man, John Kralik, took the challenge to turn his life around by becoming more grateful.
On New year’s Eve in 2008, Kralik was alone and evaluating all that had gone wrong. He knew he had to make a change. To use up some old stationery, he wrote 365 thank-you notes, one each day for a year.
Through this experience, Kralik realized that what he did mattered. He saw that his thank-you notes affected people. He said, “by showing others how their lives had meaning in mine, I found them reflecting back to me that my life had meaning in theirs.” More than anything, he began to focus on what he had instead of what he did not. Now, instead of just sending thank-you notes, he receives them!
