For as long back as I can remember, I have had this habit of privately re-playing my small successes or joyful experiences. I pause, count my blessings and let that moment really sink in. What I only recently discovered was that this relishing process was doing something constructive for my overall well-being. *
What I was building were neurological connections in my brain that were changing the way I experienced, processed, perceived and remembered my circumstances. As the activating event was pleasurable, I was building a reflex process that almost automatically triggered positive emotions when similar situations presented themselves again. I was unconsciously using Hebb’s theory, summarized as:
“(Brain) Cells that fire together, wire together”.
As I got older, I learned how to make this positive wellness process work more effectively. When it is suggested that I “smell the coffee” and be in the moment, that is what I did. The key improvement is that I had a step-by-step plan in place as to how to make that “coffee” moment more easily replicated. I mindfully pause in that experience, savour it, acknowledge that I am feeling joyful and then isolate what is especially special and unique about that moment. I reward myself for being in that fortunate moment by learning from it, joining it to previous similar times and generalizing about how to replay that positive scenario again when similar situations are present. As I build my inventory of wellness moments and triggers, the process starts to run on its own.
Working backwards, when negative or challenging events occur, you can use this process to make them less influential to your overall wellness. The key is not to harbour less pleasant moments and avoid creating reflexes systems that accommodate and reinforce them. Restated, don’t build negative neuron pathways in your brain that intensify and default to regret and sad ruminations when triggered by challenging events.
Being in the now is awesome and when that NOW moment is wonderful then so much the better. Mindfully pause, relish and savour that experience. Watch and enjoy the wiring, re-wiring and programming of your brain and learn how to make your neurons enhance your well being.
Reflection Source: www.smallercup.org
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*: Rick Hanson in his book, "Resilient: 12 Tools for transforming everyday experiences into lasting happiness" uses what he calls the HEAL process to implement what I am describing.