Overcoming Negative Bias: Finding Your Happiness

We often hear the phrase, "Happiness is a choice," which sounds simple enough. Theoretically, we can choose to focus on anything we want. However, despite the many things happening around us, we seem to be particularly drawn to that one negative event.

We may question whether we’re naturally pessimistic, but psychology tells us this is a completely normal phenomenon.

In psychological terms, this is known as negative bias, meaning that, under equal conditions, negative experiences have a stronger impact on our mental state than positive ones.

Imagine going back to the world of early humans. Missing the sight of a beautiful flower, a cute animal, or an interestingly shaped cloud didn’t cost them much. Early humans were focused on survival and passing on their genes. On the other hand, missing a lurking predator or a falling boulder could have ended an entire lineage. This focus on threats, anxiety, and danger significantly increased their chances of survival, and this habit was passed down through generations.

Even in today’s society, where many of those life-threatening dangers no longer exist, we are still wired to react strongly to negative stimuli, like an unfriendly facial expression or troubling news.

This doesn't mean we’re pessimistic—it means we have a strong instinct to survive. However, focusing too much on negative events can harm our mental and physical health, and decrease our ability to manifest our desires. That's why it's important to train our subconscious to balance this bias. The following practice may help.

First, choose a crystal that boosts positive energy and mood, such as Tiger’s Eye, Citrine, Sunstone, Clear Quartz, Yellow Calcite, or Rose Quartz, to help you focus on the positive.

Sit comfortably, holding the crystal, or lie down with it placed over your solar plexus. Once you’ve calmed your mind, recall 10 positive events, big or small, from your day. Even simple things like a good meal, freedom of movement, or a safe place to sleep are enough. This exercise helps train the subconscious to focus on positive things and cultivates gratitude, which greatly benefits your mind, body, and spirit.

It’s recommended to do this exercise 30 minutes before bed, as sleep is when we process the subconscious. A pre-sleep practice is more effective in changing subconscious habits, making it easier to notice the good around you.

If you meditate, this practice can be done after meditation, as a calm mind enhances its effectiveness. Consistency is key—it takes time to reprogram the subconscious. Making this a daily habit will gradually improve your subconscious world and uplift your conscious experience.