Richard Rohr explores how our brains are wired to hold onto negativity, and how contemplative practice helps us choose positivity instead:
Brain studies have shown that we may be hardwired to focus on problems at the expense of a positive vision. The human brain wraps around fear and problems like Velcro. We dwell on bad experiences long after the fact and spend vast amounts of energy anticipating what might go wrong in the future. Conversely, positivity and gratitude and simple happiness slide away like cheese on hot Teflon. Studies like the ones done by the neuropsychologist Rick Hanson show that we must consciously hold on to a positive thought or feeling for a minimum of fifteen seconds before it leaves any imprint in the neurons. The whole dynamic, in fact, is called the Velcro/Teflon model of the mind. [1] We are more attracted to the problem than to the solution, you might say.
Please don’t simply take me at my word. Watch your own brain and emotions. You will quickly see there is a toxic attraction to the “negative,” whether it’s a situation at work, a bit of incriminating gossip you overheard, or a sad development in the life of a friend. True freedom from this tendency is exceedingly rare, since we are ruled by automatic responses most of the time. The only way, then, to increase authentic spirituality is to deliberately practice actually enjoying a positive response and a grateful heart. And the benefits are very real. By following through on conscious choices, we can rewire our responses toward love, trust, and patience. Neuroscience calls this neuroplasticity. This is how we increase our bandwidth of freedom, and it is surely the heartbeat of any authentic spirituality.
Most of us know that we can’t afford to walk around fearing, hating, dismissing, and denying all possible threats and all otherness. But few of us were given practical teaching in how to avoid this. It’s interesting that Jesus emphasized the absolute centrality of inner motivation and intention more than outer behavior, spending almost half of the Sermon on the Mount on this subject (see Matthew 5:20–6:18). We must—yes, must—make a daily and even hourly choice to focus on the good, the true, and the beautiful. A wonderful description of this act of the will is found in Philippians 4:4–9, where Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always” [italics added]. If you’re tempted to write this off as idyllic “positive thinking,” remember that Paul wrote this letter while literally in chains (1:12–13). How did he pull this off? You might call it “mind control.” Many of us just call it “contemplation.”
References:
[1] Rick Hanson, Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (Harmony, 2013), xxvi.
Adapted from Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe (Convergent Books, 2019, 2021), 64–65.
Image credit and inspiration: Debby Hudson, untitled (detail), 2018, photo, Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. The silhouette of the person with hands open to the sky visually embodies gratitude as a recognition of life’s gift, showing how grace flows inward and outward, connecting self, community, and the divine.
Story from Our Community:
At 75 years and still growing, I find ever more appreciation for the CAC and its teachers. My wife and I have grown deeper in our faith and are continually grateful for the wide range of teachings and resources. I’m still grateful for Dr. Finley’s suggestion years ago to SLOW down in my reading and to take note of what I think the text is saying to me. What a difference it makes to go line by line and add my notes!
—Mike W.
