Negative emotions can be persistent annoyances or a deep seated, debilitating condition. Science has even shown that most of us have a “negativity bias” that’s somewhat hardwired into our brains. But there’s also been significant scientific evidence that we have the power to “rewire” our brains toward positivity.
In my show and seminar called The Magic of Cultivating Positive Emotions I use mentalism to illustrate my teaching points. Misdirection, particularly how we can misdirect our thoughts and emotions from the negative to the positive, is one of those points. But it’s not a magic formula. Just like a magician or mentalist needs to practice consistently, misdirecting your thoughts and emotions takes regular practice as well. But it does work. And the more you practice the more your brain will rewire itself toward more positivity.
There are a number of effective techniques. Let me share with you one that I employ. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and begin to worry, entertain negative scenarios, and, at times, even begin to spiral a bit emotionally. It’s difficult for the brain to entertain both negativity and positivity at the same time, so I misdirect from the negative thoughts toward positive thoughts. Here’s how….
I begin by breathing in deeply but slowly through my nostrils and from my diaphragm. Then I breathe out slowly through my nostrils. Nostril breathing is known to increase nitric oxide levels and widen blood vessels, improving blood flow and oxygen uptake while releasing stress-reducing neurotransmitters like endorphins and dopamine.
Each time I breathe in, I “say” (in my mind) a specific word that has a particularly positive meaning to me. My word is “grateful.” As I breathe out, I “say” the name of someone I’m grateful for. My grateful list consists of members of my immediate family. Sometimes I’ll accompany the name with a brief prayer. There are seventeen in my immediate family, and, believe it or not, sometimes I don’t get through the entire family before I fall into a peaceful sleep.
Misdirection is a powerful tool in the mentalist and magicians’ tool box, but it’s an even more powerful tool you can wield to cultivate positive emotions.
Rod Robison is a Tucson, Arizona based author, mentalist, and magician who provides entertainment, inspirational speaking, and sales training for corporations and organizations. Learn more at www.TucsonMentalist.com
