It might be our current situation, but have you ever noticed that it’s easy to remember all the bad things that happen in a day? It’s like everything we do is problematic.

According to neuropsychologist Dr Rick Hanson, focusing on the negative is hardwired in our brain. Positive emotions don’t transfer as easily to long-term memory. In fact, in order to thrive, we require five positive interactions to counteract every negative.

To develop a more positive outlook, we need to commit to “rewiring” our brain. Dr Hanson has four suggestions:

1. Take in the good

2. Focus on the positive experiences with the greatest personal impact

3. Be on your own side

4. Maintain a sense of wonder

If you feel that Alert Levels, Covid cases and pervasive uncertainty are dominating your newsfeed, I am pleased to share some of the amazing things that have been happening in the world in the past few weeks, in hopes that they might offer a positive anecdote to life in your bubble.

In support of empowering girls and advancing gender equality, there is some good news from Tanzania, which will allow pregnant girls and teen mothers the opportunity to resume secondary education, overturning a four-year ban, and Saudi Arabia has officially allowed single, divorced or widowed women to live independently in a house without permission from a male guardian.

An old labour law in the US state of Hawaii that allowed employers to pay less than the minimum wage to disabled workers has been overturned, meaning that the 26,000 workers with some form of disability will be guaranteed fair wages.

There have been some terrific wins for the planet in the past few weeks as well. Heralded as ‘a law of laws’, the EU has approved landmark legislation to enshrine greenhouse gas emissions targets in law, requiring a 55% reduction by 2030, net-zero by 2050, and the creation of a carbon budget for 2030-2050 that meets climate goals.

The entire landmass of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, 3,800 square kilometres of pristine wilderness often featured in nature documentaries, will be designated as a protected area, complementing the existing 1.24 million square kilometre marine reserve in this part of the South Atlantic. And on the west coast of central Africa, the country of Gabon has passed new laws to protect the country’s 69 species of sharks and rays. The landmark measures include new laws to fully regulate shark and ray catches, and highlight a new global initiative launched on World Ocean Day to save endangered marine species.

Fear, worry and stress are natural reactions to the situation we currently find ourselves in. I hope that some of these good news stories can help to ‘take in the good’, and to ‘maintain a sense of wonder’ in our tremendous capacity as humans to advocate for each other and our planet.

Hanson, R. Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence. Penguin Random House, October 2013.
Hanson, R. Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness. Penguin Random House, May 2020.