Thanks to impermanence, the seasons are always changing. Whether you’re reading this in spring (my favourite season) or at another time of year, it’s always good to notice the changes in our surroundings
In spring, as the days grow longer and warmer, life reveals itself in all its beauty and variety — blossoming fully into summer. In autumn, we see the gentle letting go of leaves and anticipate the quiet rest that comes with winter.
Shifting the mind to the positive
When I have some time, I like to go for a walk — especially when my head feels full, or my body feels numb or tired.
I don’t go anywhere special, just a small tour around my neighbourhood. I enjoy seeing how my neighbours tend their gardens, sharing their beauty with everyone passing by. Little snowdrops and crocuses start to show their heads, and birds are singing and darting about.
These short sense-and-savour walks offer me a mini-holiday — a small pause that leaves me feeling a little more energised and nourished for the rest of the day.
Perhaps you can also take a few minutes to go outside, wander, and enjoy some sunlight. What do you notice? The temperature of the air? The early flowers peeking out?
Whatever you notice, bring a sense of freshness and curiosity. If you sense something pleasant, allow yourself to take this goodness in.
Cultivate a sense of awe — as if it were a miracle — because it truly is.
How positivity can impact the brain
If you think, “this is not how I experience life at all — usually I feel a bit low,” don’t worry! It means you are simply human.
Our brains are hardwired to pay extra attention to negative things and to ignore the small pleasures that surround us every day.
This is called the negativity bias.
To put it simply, our brains are programmed to be like Velcro for “bad things” and like Teflon for “good things”: the bad sticks, and the good slides away. This had evolutionary value for survival, but it doesn’t help us feel relaxed or fulfilled today.
Fortunately, we can learn how to rewire our brain.
Why pay attention to our brain?
It’s important to attend to the garden of our mind. We can learn to rewire our brain — to practise a kind of “inner gardening” that helps us thrive.
In essence, we can manage our mind in three primary ways: let be, let go, let in.
We begin by observing what is already growing — the qualities and habits we cultivate. Then we can decide what to prune or pull out (a kind of letting go). And finally, we plant or water the things we wish to grow: inner strengths that support our well-being and help us deal with challenges.
How to take in the good
Notice that what you are experiencing is positive — a time when you can rest in the moment rather than being caught up in thought. What is it bringing you? Calm? Joy? Beauty?
Allow yourself a few extra seconds to really take it in. What do you truly see? If it’s a flower or a bird, can you marvel at its uniqueness, enjoy its colours and form, and feel grateful for the sense of sight?
How does this make you feel? Do you feel lighter? How does your heart region feel? What else do you notice — a smell, perhaps, or the fresh air on your skin?
You might reflect: Why does this matter to you? Maybe you feel satisfied with this freely given moment, or safe in the reminder that goodness is always around, even when we forget it.
Let this experience sink in. Know that the calm, joy, or gratitude you feel is becoming part of you — being hardwired into your brain.
Take in the good — guided meditation
Allow yourself to be inspired by this short meditation on taking in the good (approx. 22 minutes).
If you’d like to learn more, have a look at our regular offerings of the Positive Neuroplasticity Training — it might be just the boost you need to cultivate a happier brain and build your resilience.
Wishing you a wonderful exploration of whichever season you find yourself in.
