Richness in life comes from memorable experiences.

I measure the quality of my life by the number of wonderful experiences I have. My existence represents true wealth because it is punctuated by events that make me happy.

Each day I commit to doing things that have a lasting impact on my life. The joy that is created from positive occurrences is enough to last a lifetime.

What would it be like if you could say these things about your day?

My day starts with a plan to do something good for someone in need. At times that involves providing financial relief to the less fortunate. At other times, that means acting as a confidant for anyone who needs a listening ear.

Having a sense of community with friends and family is important. It adds to the quality of each day. I go to bed with a smile each night when I recall my friendly interactions. They inspire positivity in my life.

I feel truly rich when I consider my blessings. Each thing that I am thankful for gives me great opportunities to reminisce on the goodness of life.

I am more fulfilled by rich experiences than I am by financial gain. My focus is on filling my life with encounters that have a more lasting effect than material possessions.

Today, I celebrate because I have incomparable wealth. I am happy to have a lot of positive and healthy memories to recount at any time. Life is wonderful because I fill it with unforgettable experiences.

These are powerful actions that can come from a desire to learn from each and every personal experience.

So what about “negative experiences”?

First, we need to understand that an experience is an experience. The value of that experience is a judgement we make when we compare it to what we expected, what we desired or what we wished for,.

What we experience triggers our feelings and our emotions.

For the sake of clarity,

Emotions

Emotions – Emotions are regarded as ‘lower level’ responses. They first occur in the subcortical areas of the brain such as the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortices. These areas are responsible for producing biochemical reactions that have a direct impact on your physical state.

Emotions are coded into our DNA and are thought to have developed as a way to help us respond quickly to different environmental threats, much like our ‘fight or flight’ response. The amygdala has also been shown to play a role in the release of neurotransmitters that are essential for memory, which is why emotional memories are often stronger and easier to recall

Feelings

Feelings – Emotions are seen as preceding feelings, which tend to be our reactions to the different emotions we experience. Where emotions can have a more generalized experience across all humans, feelings are more subjective and are influenced by our personal experiences and interpretations of our world based on those experiences.

Feelings occur in the neocortical regions of the brain and are the next step in how we respond to our emotions as an individual. Because they are so subjective, they can’t be measured the way emotions can.

However, research shows that humans often remember negative or traumatic experiences over positive ones. This persistent recall of negative memories might be an evolutionary defence mechanism, but it can also lead to psychological impediments, like depression or anxiety.

We can learn to “frame” all of our experiences in terms of what we have learned.

To do this we need to find ways of exploring the triggers for our emotions and thus the root of our feelings.

This is something that comes from the opportunities we create to reflect not only on what has happened but also how that event connected with our personal and emotional history.

We have all experienced moments that we wish we could forget. However, research shows that humans often remember negative or traumatic experiences over positive ones. This persistent recall of negative memories might be an evolutionary defense mechanism, but it can also lead to psychological impediments, like depression or anxiety.

Some Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How much time do I spend being thankful for the blessings of life

2. How active am I in creating positive experiences for others

3. How do I go about creating a balance between financial wellness and peace of mind?

4. Do I simply react or am I able to reflect on what triggered a specific reaction?

5. Do I expect the worst and then find it?

6. How do I protect myself in challenging situations?

7. Can I recognise repeating patterns in my emotional responses?

8. What tools or techniques do I actively use to help me be more reflective?

9. Do I have trusted people who help and do not colude with my difficult experiences

10. Am I able to seek the help and/or support of a neutral (professional?) individual?

Alan /|\

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Elyn Bres