Too often when we experience chronic stress, we let negativity bias and confirmation bias take over.
For example, we assume that we’ll have a bad day, and then we focus on the unpleasant things that happen (and reinforce our negativity). And because our thoughts affect how we feel and act, our “bad day” becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
What if we could choose a sort of positivity bias?
Behavior scientist B.J. Fogg, PhD — director of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University — is known especially for a habit formation method known as Tiny Habits.
One of his favorite Tiny Habits is what he calls the “Maui habit.” (The reasons for the name are explained in this TEDx talk.) In the morning, after you wake up and put your feet on the floor, you say out loud (ideally with some enthusiasm), “It’s going to be a great day.”
According to Fogg, the Maui habit leads to you doing other good things, right after and through the morning, and day after day.
Why not give it a try? Make it a Tiny Habit that you do every morning.
