Give Thanks Before You Tank: Integrated Brain Tip #2

Written By Lasting Peace Counseling

You have probably been told at some point in your life to "be grateful". Or maybe have seen things like a gratitude journal to keep track of things your are thankful for.

But WHY?

Our brains are wired to look for the negative. It is easy to do. Once we start looking for it, our brain will find it. And the more we find the it, the more we focus on it and the more of it we will find. It is a yucky spiral that has nowhere to go but down (what I call, tanking). This will start creating pathways in the brain to search for negative things and it becomes a habit. Before we know it, we are bitter, resentful and quite honestly, hard to be around.

But because of the neuroplasticity of the brain, we can change the pathways. What is the solution? Gratitude. Giving thanks. Seeing the good, the light, and the beauty in this world is the resolution to a negative outlook on life. It works the same...when we look for the good, our brain will find the good and the more we find it, the more we will search for it.

What are three things that bring you joy? If that is hard, what are three things that went right today? Share them here to start spreading the joy.

Phillipians 4:8 (The Message):

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.