Sunday Edition: Mind Tickles: Exploring the Potential of Positive Emotions

This word combination mind tickle delights me. I love that about words.

Mind Tickle

The words popped into my mind and gave me a little tickle while looking at this painting in the foyer of The Pearl Hotel on Rosemary Beach in Florida. I’m here celebrating life with my old (not in age, we’ve just known each other for a very long time) girlfriends. The last few days have been filled with reminiscing, laughter, dancing and some magical connections with random humans.

The painting, and life in this moment just makes me smile.

It’s got me thinking... positive emotions are basically mind tickles.

“Positivity doesn’t just change the contents of your mind … it widens the span of possibilities that you see.” Barbara Fredrickson

When we are in a good mood, we are more creative, curious, and sociable with an increased feeling of physical health. It's a mind tickle that has a ripple effect through the whole body. Kind of like the opposite of a body tickle that ripples through to the mind. (Have you ever tickled a grumpy child and witnessed an immediate mood change?)

Paying attention and being more intentional with our positive emotions is a practice with lasting effects. You really are healthier. Your immune system has been shown to work better when you are in a positive mindset. Your cardiovascular system receives a boost. You’re a better problem-solver and accept others more easily.

Those are some powerful outcomes, especially in an increasingly divided world that pumps fear through the airwaves.

If you are now craving a little mind tickle, here are some ideas.

Joy - Make Room for Passion. Carve out 15 minutes during your day to do something you are passionate about. That may mean gardening, reading a book to your child or sending emails to your senator. Finding joy in life leads you to understand why you are here, and what causes your life to be meaningful and purposeful.

Gratitude - Three Good Things. At the end of each day write about 1-3 things that happened in your day and how they made you feel.

Serenity - Focus on Worry. Without stopping, write down everything that is churning around in your mind. Once ti is out of your head, give yourself permission to leave ti in your journal and come back to it later with a clearer head.

Interest - Re-Spark. Think of something you have "lost interest" in. From a place of curiosity describe what was happening - was there an aversion to it, triggers of other emotions, frustration. Spend some time with what was happening and then see fi you can bring that same curiosity to solve .it Ask yourself: Did I find it difficult and lost interest? Can Ibreak it down to smaller pieces, ask for guidance? How can Iapproach it differently?

Pride - YELP! Reviews. Chances are you, your work, your contributions have been recognized in writing (maybe in the form of a thank you note); in conversation; and even more formally during an employee review, promotional announcement or testimonial. These are your very own YELP! Reviews. Begin collecting them, documenting the words that people use when they talk about you, your work and your contributions. Enter them in a journal or a file on your computer. Look back on this list when you aren't feeling so great or proud. Let the belief that others have in you inspire belief in yourself.

Hope - Strength Mining. Think about a time when you handled a tough situation in a positive way. Write about the situation in the form of a story with a beginning middle and end. What helped you deal with the situation? Personal attributes: persistence optimism or faith, etc. Support? From who?

Amusement - Comic Vision. Begin to look at the world through funny-colored lenses. Look for the absurdity around you. Check for incongruities, find the humor in street signs, at restaurants. When you begin to look for it, you will begin experiencing humorous situations more often, which then will provide you material for your interactions with others.

Inspiration - Who What Why? Make a list of everything that inspires you - from books ot websites, podcasts, quotes, people, paintings, stores or stars stars. From your list pick one topic you need to learn more about to help you live a more fulfilling life? For the next week schedule time ni your calendar to do just that!

Awe - Take an Awe walk. Looking at life through the eyes of a child. Possible to integrate an Awe Walk into your daily routine-even fi a route is familiar to you, you can make an effort to notice new things. The same old sights you pass every day may turn out to be surprising sources of inspiration. As a case ni point, Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train, got the idea for the bestselling novel during her morning commute, as she gazed curiously out the train window.

Love - Loving Kindness Meditation. There are many free guided Loving Kindness Meditations from Jon Kabat Zinn. You can find others in Apps like Insight Timer or Calm.

Is there one that resonates with you? Wishing you a pleasurable diversion. 😁

I’m going to jump back into joy :)

p.s. I’d love it if you join me on Chat, we can strengthen our gratitude muscle together.