Brian Doyle is a sharp young man. His profound and meaningful story helps us remember what matters most in life. He genuinely embodies the spirit of Thanksgiving all year around. He has much to teach us all!
Continued from Newsletter…
What might change in our lives if we each implemented a version of his personal challenge? What if at least once a day we focused our minds and hearts on beauty, gratitude, what goes/went well today (even when it seems that nothing does), on the smile of a stranger, the care of a coworker, a friend who reached out to inquire on how we were doing, a family member (pets included) that made us feel we belong and matter, our partner who filled up our love thank…? What might change if we did so for a week, a month, 3 months, 6 months, a full year?
Might we not be more inclined to focus on the good in life, instead of being overwhelmed by all that is not working the way we wish it did? Might we be better able to face to the challenges in front of us with more agency? Brain neuroscience and studies on couples who thrive confirm that people who foster a grateful attitude towards life and the people in their lives are at an advantage when it comes to widening their bandwidth. Because of the innate negativity bias of our brain (remember the blog on the subject and how to hardwire happiness?), we must ––if we are to increase our experience of inner peace and to widen our resiliency zone–– learn to also focus on the good in our lives. This doesn’t mean we become complacent and uninvolved about what really bothers us and the injustices inflicted on the people we care about. In fact, we better equip ourselves to face these challenges with an empowered attitude because we know how to recharge ourselves, our souls and our hearts to get out in the arena and fight the meaningful fights!
What version of Brian Doyle’s challenge are you inspired to take for yourself so that you might me better centered in what really matters to you?