Our brains are wired for negativity.

• Why it matters: It takes practice — and sometimes physical work — to push against that and bring in the positivity.

⚡ Catch up quick: We evolved to prioritize negative thoughts as a survival tactic, The Washington Post reports (gift link).

• "If you're walking to get water and you encounter a tiger, it's a great idea to stay focused on the tiger" and not on the pretty sunset, Alison Ledgerwood, a psychology professor at UC Davis told The Post.
• As a result, we tend to hold on to bad feelings and experiences over good ones.

🧠 Reality check: There's a reason we're wired to focus on negative things: When we're experiencing real threats to our lives and livelihoods, it's key that they grab our attention.

• Think about anything from heeding an evacuation order before an impending hurricane to motivating yourself to start the search after losing a job.

But dwelling on the negative can lead to elevated stress, depression and anxiety, especially if it becomes a daily — or even hourly — habit.

The good news: There are concrete steps we can take.

1. ✏️ Write it. Take time each morning or evening to actually write down a few things — however big or small — for which you're grateful.
2. 📁 Make a folder. Keep a digital or physical folder filled with things that bring you joy. It might include photos of friends and family, kind emails from bosses or colleagues, or birthday cards.
3. ⛅ Find the positive. It's the oldest trick. If you've had a particularly bad day at work or you've argued with someone you love, redirect your attention to a recent happy memory with that person or one reason why you love your job.

The money quote: Emma McAdam, a therapist in Provo, Utah, told The Post that when we're stuck with negativity, we can try to "actively shift our attention to something else because attention is our greatest superpower."

A man fly-fishes in the Mississippi River in Minneapolis yesterday.