Where are you steering your sled?

Being in Iceland is an appropriate reminder that the cortical landscape  (I know a big word for someone on holidays!) of our brains is like “the snowy hill in winter” (stick with me!)

Did you know  if we continuously think negatively about life (circumstances, people & events),  we create a negative pathway in the 'snow' AKA our Brains?  The best thing about knowing this is that  we can  retrain our brains to “steer our sled” towards a more positive outlook, then that pathway in the 'snow' will actually show a physical change in our brains. The more scientific term for those who like big words is  “neuroplasticity”, each one of our thoughts and subsequent behaviors are responsible for this change in our brains. Nice to know that we are in control! 

So why is being positive (carving a new path in the snow) worth pursuing? Research has shown that a positive pathway in the 'snow' can lead to some great results in your life such as:

• better immune system and health,
• success in relationships and work,
• resilience,
• you actually become more attractive,
• you are more fun to be with,
• and it helps us to flourish, etc.

Unfortunately negativity offers the opposite. (Ever found a negative person attractive? I know I haven't)
The best thing about  being in control of our 'sled' is that we have a new opportunity each moment to enhance our emotional experience (or drain our energy, ouch!). I discovered many years ago that we always have a choice as to how we respond to situations, events and people.  Armed with the knowledge that a positive attitude to life is worth nurturing, and that we can “steer” a different pathway on our habitual cortical landscape, then we can begin to work on strategies to make this happen for ourselves.

Many years ago when I realized I needed to be more positive, I simply would "catch" myself being negative and choose to flip the negative into a positive (e.g. I just paid too much for something, flipped the thought into, thank goodness I can afford to pay that price)  I was able to move quickly into a positive way of being.
The more I adopted this practice the easier it was to have a positive mindset.  My cortical landscape was changing, my sled was heading in a positive direction, and well life was so much better. Being positive moved me from being the victim to being the master of my own destiny. Most people think I have always been super positive... well nope... I had to teach myself and I haven't looked back since, the pathway in the 'snow' is a deep one for me, and it's heading in a positive direction!

Do you have a strategy that has helped you to move from a negative mindset to a positive one? Please post a comment and share your successes!

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