Beginning SFI-Practice – Lesson 7

Objective:

Learn the benefits of the SfI-Practice

In these videos:

• Evolution has left us with a negativity bias. Its effects can be reduced.
• Modern people are better served by positivity.
• Paying attention to positivity amplifies positive feelings; we feel happier.
• Balance can be struck between realistic attention to challenges while maintaining positive feelings.
• Balance can be struck between the opinions of others and our own certainty about our strengths.
• Our words for what we like about ourselves become your positive identity.
• The practice improves our relationships with ourselves and others.

Key Takeaway:

The words we use become the reality we inhabit.

Notes on Practice
The “negativity bias” is the normal tendency to give more attention to negative experiences, feelings, and outcomes than positive ones. We tend to spend more time thinking about negative things, and we tend to ascribe more importance and urgency to negative things.

Reflection Question
Can you recall a time when the experience of a positive moment suddenly shifted your mood? Write about that experience. Can you articulate the name of a strength you used during that positive moment?

Benefits of SfI-Practice Section Two

Learn how the practice can make your feelings about yourself and your interactions with other people more positive.

Notes on Practice

With a little bit of daily effort you can:  Be more self-accepting, and comfortable with who you are. Be more self-confident and assume you are doing the best you can. Be more resilient after experiencing disappointments. Have fewer defensive feelings. Be less hurt by criticisms. Create a deeper sense of equanimity and calm. Be more aware of what you can change, and accept what you cannot change. Appreciate diversity and multiple perspectives. Feel less need to win or to be right in a disagreement. Be generally more optimistic, grateful, and positive in perspective.

Other Resources

This video from Dr. Russ Harris [www.thehappinesstrap.com] is an entertaining explanation of the presence and persistence of the negativity bias. 

Reflection Question
What benefits would you most like to get from the practice?