W-W-W.calm

If you’re looking for a simple and quick thing to do everyday that is clinically proven to alleviate significant symptoms of depression over a 6 month period and increase self-reported feelings of more consistent happiness well then you’re reading the right blog post. Dr. Martin Seligman who is credited with creating and advancing research inventions in the field of Positive Psychology lays out a simple and effective practice he calls “What-Went-Well”. To complete this task, sit down every night and write down three things that “went well” for you that day; either with pen and paper, talking out loud with a family member/friend, or typing it in a note/journal on your phone or computer. Once you have the three things move onto a second step, why it went well. Next to or under each event, write down why that particular thing went well, in other words, how do you make sense of how it happened (no wrong way to answer). Lastly, after you have identified a why, move onto meaning. What does it mean to you that this event or circumstance happened? Boom, you're done. Less than 10 minutes and you just did something clinically proven to change your mindset. BRAVO. 

The idea is this; the more you complete this task the more you operationalize and practice a positive perspective of gratitude. We are hardwired to focus on negative experience so in completing the “What-Went-Well” exercise. You are training the brain to seek evidence of positive experience which in turn calms the mind and body. 

I would be honored to talk to you more about your mindset. I can help.

-TM