Where our focus goes, our energy flows!
Too often, we find ourselves consumed by the struggles and challenges of our lives, inadvertently feeding energy to the very things we wish to overcome. When we fixate on what’s wrong—our stress, pain, fears, and frustrations—we unknowingly hardwire our brain for negativity. Over time, this trains our mind to constantly scan for what’s wrong, reinforcing a cycle where we primarily notice the things that bring us distress.
But here’s the good news: the brain is plastic! This means it is adaptable and capable of change. By consciously shifting our focus toward what is good, beautiful, and uplifting in our lives, we can rewire our brain for more joy, ease, and gratitude. What we focus on expands. If we constantly focus on hardships, we magnify them. But if we turn our attention to the small, meaningful moments—the glimmers—we begin to reshape our reality from the inside out.
Now, this is not about ignoring challenges or “bright-siding” yourself. In fact, rewiring your brain for joy doesn’t start with ignoring what’s hard—it starts with acknowledging it. True healing begins with being brutally honest about how you actually feel, even if it’s uncomfortable. And here’s something important: there are no “negative” emotions—only emotions we resist feeling. When we give ourselves permission to fully process what we’re experiencing, something powerful happens. Instead of staying stuck in survival mode, we naturally move into a more elevated state—one where it becomes much easier to notice the good.
So, rewiring the brain isn’t about forcing positivity. It’s about creating emotional fluidity. When we allow ourselves to feel, we free up space for more genuine joy to emerge. Feeling is what allows us to move into an authentically elevated state, where happiness and positivity arise organically—not because we’re trying to force them, but because we’ve created space for them to exist.
This is a great time to look for glimmers. Glimmers are the antidote to triggers. They are those fleeting yet powerful moments of beauty, connection, and appreciation that ignite warmth and gratitude within us. The sunlight filtering through the trees, the comforting scent of morning tea, a genuine smile from a loved one—these are glimmers. They exist all around us, waiting to be noticed.
So how do we rewire our brain for more joy? It starts with conscious attention. Instead of being caught in the autopilot of stress and survival, we can train our mind to seek out the good. Throughout your day, take intentional pauses. Look for what is going right. Notice the simple pleasures. Pay attention to the way the wind feels on your skin, the laughter of a child, the comforting warmth of a hug. These micro-moments of joy and safety send powerful messages to your nervous system, letting your body know that you are safe and supported.
Again, this is not about ignoring challenges—it’s about creating balance. When we become skilled at noticing the good, we shift our nervous system out of survival mode and into a state of regulation, where healing naturally happens. Over time, these small moments accumulate, rewiring the brain for resilience, peace, and an increased capacity for joy.
Where we place our focus is a choice. We can choose to be consumed by what is wrong, or we can choose to embrace what is right. Let’s train our minds to notice the glimmers—the small yet profound moments of beauty that remind us life is filled with goodness. When we do, we don’t just think differently—we live differently.
