The human mind is a strange thing.
Very strange.
I mean, in someone’s mind the Gateway hall in Southampton seemed like a good idea. Someone’s mind created the Nissan Leaf. Equally, someone’s mind came up with the Aston Martin DB9.
A strange thing, the mind.
Recent studies have shown something fascinating about the human mind.
Emotions and thoughts which are negative – fear, shame, disappointment, pain, sadness etc – stick to receptors in the mind instantly. Neuroscientists describe as being like velcro.
However, with emotions and thoughts which are positive – joy, beauty, fun, satisfaction etc – our mind acts like teflon and they do not stick. Research has shown that we need to focus on something positive, beautiful, joyful, exciting for 15 seconds in order for it to stick to our mind.
A Christian buzz word for that might be “meditation”.
Think about it. How easily we are taken down and how hard it is to build us up again.
Here is some holiday homework.
Take fifteen seconds to really meditate on everything that is fun, beautiful, joyful. When you wake up, take fifteen seconds to look at your wife, husband, children.
When you see a beautiful view. Stop. Take it in.
When someone says something complimentary to you. Stop. Deliberately take fifteen seconds to let it sink in, before you move on or brush it aside.
Also, remember how easily negative stuff sticks and be very careful how you use negative words!
Have a great summer.
One Comment
Thanks Matt, now Planet Earth episodes will each take 12 hours to watch…