Axios Finish Line

May 13, 2025
Welcome back! Smart Brevityβ’ count: 363 words β¦ 1Β½ mins. Copy edited by Amy Stern.
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1 big thing: Wired for worry
Our brains are wired for negativity.
- Why it matters: It takes practice β and sometimes physical work β to push against that and bring in the positivity.
β‘ 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.
π§ 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 β or even hourly β habit.
The good news: There are concrete steps we can take.
- βοΈ Write it. Take time each morning or evening to actually write down a few things β however big or small β for which you're grateful.
- π 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.
- β 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."
π£ Parting shot!

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