Happiness

I've blogged about this topic many times before. But lately I feel like I've been learning something about it that I never quite understood. It's implied in all the quotes and teachings I've studied in the scriptures and from the modern day prophets, but because of my logical brain I love to know the science behind some of it.

This video is awesome:

One of the quotes in there that I love is this:

"What we're finding is that it is not necessarily the reality that shapes us but the lens to which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. And if we can change the lens...can we change your happiness." 

A few months ago we had a woman come to my work and talk to us about something similar. She gave several examples to show how our "lens" truly does change our reality. One example-how often do you hear someone talk about a particular type of car (or you date a boy who drives a particular car) and then suddenly you always see that type of car everywhere. Did all of Provo suddenly buy new cars? Heavens no. Bu because my brain was "focused in" on a certain type of car, my reality changed. Another example: how many of you have watched the video of the two teams passing the basketball back and forth? You're given instructions to try to count how many passes they make. At the end of the video they ask you if you saw the man in the monkey suit do a dance in the middle of the screen. I fell for that TWICE! And I was like, there is literally NO WAY that a man in a monkey suit walked through the video and I didn't notice. But it was true. My reality was different because I was focused on a specific thing. 

So how much does my reality change if I am only focused on the negative things that happen in my life? Last night I only focused on the negative. How Nate came over and it killed me. How I had to try 5 different printers before I found one that worked. How I had a horrid headache and each minute not in bed was going to make me more exhausted for my 12 hr hospital shift today. How I was cold and lonely and stressed and had so much to do. But what if I had changed my lens? What if I had given Nate all the benefit of the doubt. Or put myself above being hurt? Or been grateful I had so many options for a printer on campus? Or noticed more the gorgeous view I got as I walked up and down so many stairs overlooking Provo? Or been grateful that it wasn't that cold outside. Or tried to look forward to the opportunity I would have today to see the miracle of birth and be a part of it? How much different would my reality have been if I had focused on those things? 

Of course the actual facts wouldn't have changed. Nate still would have come over. The 4 first printers still would have been broken. It still would have been getting later and later. But who cares about facts? They only matter in relation to the story we create from them. And changing the lens with which I shape my story literally changes my reality. 

I want to do it. I want to be a part of the happiness revolution. And I'm lucky because I have the other half of the answers aka the Gospel to provide that eternal happiness. I am going to switch out my lens by choosing to record and think about on one competent thing I did every day and one thing I am grateful for every single day. 

I'm going to do it for the rest of February and see how my attitude about my ability changes. And how my happiness increases. 

So here we go:

Today--> I successfully inserted an IV the first time I've tried since I've been home from my mission. 

Today--> I am so grateful for Brittany and her willingness to spend time with me at our favorite spot (Cafe Rio obvi). I love her. She makes me happy :) 

K, and now I get to do something else that makes me happy. I am going to bed. 

Goodnight!