Ever noticed how negatives seem to have an intoxicating magnetism? We can get that absolutely fantastic feedback on an appraisal, or a job well done, but, that work on point is often what we focus on.
This is hardwired into our neurology from generations of that work on point possibly costing us our life. We use a sabre tooth for a reason. It's thought our responses to danger have not changed all that much since we were living in caves and Sabretooth tigers were high on the agenda of things to be avoided.
If you were to walk past a bush 1000 times, assume there was a sabre tooth tiger hiding within it, give it a wide berth and be wrong 1000 times what do you lose?
Other than possibly walking a tiny bit further than you intended. You are safe, your life is preserved.
You don't make that assumption and get it wrong once?
It could be curtains.
This is why we have this response.
Why that feedback worries us. It may not threaten our physical safety, but, the perceived safety and security of our position in the world, financial safety, possibly our home and food? We could believe this is threatened even (if it's super secure).
This is also why it's incredibly difficult to break a negative thinking cycle (but, that's another post)
Modern issues crossed with the stone age response.
Remember - Often good experiences are like Teflon whilst bad is like velcro.
So we can stay "safe".
The more value we place in positives no matter how small, the more we can protect ourselves from that sabretooth.
Control Your Attention
- The Lead Berserker
- The Lead Berserker