The science of Positivity is a book (2017 edition ;224 pages;
Adams Media) which tells us about how
negative thought patterns are formed and
how we can rewire ourselves and replace our negative thought habits with
positive ones.
Dr.
Breuning is a Neuro Chemical expert and
explains through examples , stories , analogies how brain chemicals ( neurotransmitters) Dopamine, Serotonin ,
Oxytocin , Endorphin and Cortisol play a major role in our thought habits. Our
neural pathways were paved by our early neuro chemical ups and downs. Our
negativity and cynicism are habits
formed in an early stage of our life to
cope up with chance events
related to survival threats, breaches of trust , being dominated socially by bullies or, being left behind in a
competition or race. Negativity is good at
stimulating happy chemicals. Because it feels good , we do’nt want to
come out of negativity. The electricity in our brain flows into these
old pathways or circuits whenever
stressful situation due to survival threats comes up. As a result , we remain negative or
cynic. If we want to have positivity in life , we have to build new neural pathways or circuits. The book tries
to answer how it can be done .
Why should we have
positivity? As the author explains:” Cynicism helps relieve a sense of threat but it comes at a price .it makes you
powerless because you focus on things
you cannot control instead of things you
can control.”
In Chapter 6 of the
book (title: PARE Habit), the author
gives a very practical way to build a
positive life , called PARE which means Personal Agency and Realistic
Expectations. She says that three times a day , stop and think of something
good. Spend one minute each time scanning
for the positive aspects of situation
that are currently on your mind. Do this for six weeks and your
brain will be trained to look for
the good of the world. She also says that we should maintain a
positivity minutes(journal) to keep daily the minutes of this exercise. Just keep finding and recording three good
things a day for six weeks , and your
new expectations will affect your neuro chemistry and build your new neural pathways. This metamorphosis or
alchemy from negative wiring to positive wiring in six weeks sounds
too good to be true but Dr. Breuning insists that
it is true. And I trust her academic and intellectual integrity.
There are many interesting examples of positivity at work . For example , if your
bank makes an error, you get upset but you do’nt notice the bank’s billions of
correct transactions .She seems to be advocating a more tolerant view of people
at work , rather than a Zero Defect mindset. But she is on weak wicket
when she asks us to do something for
climate crisis with a positive feeling
and have no negative feelings .When you are choking with polluted air , it is difficult to have only positive feelings .
But still, it is a highly convincing book about getting from cynicism to positivity. Dr.
Breuning’s style is clear , direct, accessible
and captivating , and very enjoyable . There is some inner logic ,
drive and force in this book which makes it different from other books on positivity
that I have read. I strongly recommend
you to read this wonderful short book. It has the potential to change your
life.
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