Positive Memory

Did you know that happiness skills can be learned? Yes, actually. And because happiness skills can be learned, these skills, like other skills, depend on the brain. Just as recognizing the color of a flower or remembering the name of a friend requires the brain to work quickly and efficiently, happiness also requires the brain to recognize positive information quickly and efficiently.

Unfortunately, the brain is actually quite lazy. The brain’s goal is to use as little energy as possible while remaining functional. This happens by learning from our experiences and creating neural networks that make it easier for us to continue doing what we’ve always done, thinking how we’ve always thought, and feeling what we’ve always felt, with little additional effort.

The bad news it is when we are constantly preoccupied with our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, etc. Behaviors that cause negative emotionsOur brains are actually getting better at creating these negative emotions. And the older we get, the more rigid and resistant to change the brain becomes.

In short, IIf we have been sad a lot in our life, our brain finds it easier to be sad. When we have had a lot of fear, our brain is more capable of being afraid. And when we have been happy often, our brain finds it easier to be happy.

The good news is it the brain? East Change throughout our lives. The brain’s ability to change is called neuroplasticity. So the more you practice happiness-related activities and strengthen these brain regions, the easier it is for your brain to generate happiness. And over time, you have to put less and less effort into increasing happiness. ​

​Now let’s try one of these activities:

Take a moment to remember the following words:
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​Enchanting, radiant, spirit, content, beautiful, wish, jewel

Ok, have you memorized them?
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After saving, click the “Send” button.

Stop scrolling and take a look!!!

Thank you to everyone who submitted their responses to this activity! We can now share some common themes that have emerged in our community.

In the Berkeley Well-Being Institute community, about half of users found this activity easier than expected, while the other half found it more difficult. And few people did what they expected.

If you find this more difficult than you thought, you could probably benefit from improving your positive emotional memory. You can have mine Positivity eBook for a collection of positive words to help you develop this skill. The more positive words you memorize, the more you exercise your brain and improve your ability to remember positive things. ​​