The Messy Truth About Memory IS YOUR BRAIN TRICKING YOU INTO FEELING BAD?
A pril is here, so there’s a good chance you’ve already fallen victim to an April Fools’ prank (or pulled one). On April 1, we all keep an eye out for practical jokes from our families, friends, and coworkers — but one place we never think to look for pranks is our own heads. That’s right: Your brain could be playing an April Fools’ joke on you. Our brains are complicated, and scientists are still just starting to unravel them, but one thing we know for sure is that they’re great at playing tricks. You might have heard about some of these, like how our brains convince us that there’s a bigger difference between $1.99 and $2 than there actually is. But you might not know that when it comes to choosing between good memories and bad ones, our brains tend to favor the bad ones. This can trick us into having a negative mindset even when great things are happening on our journeys. Studies suggest we’re more likely to remember negative experiences than positive ones, according to The Washington Post. Laura Carstensen, a Stanford psychology professor, even told the Post that we notice negative things more often than positive ones. This isn’t because our brains hate us. It’s because they want to protect us. A snake in the grass is more likely to hurt us than a sunset, so our minds notice the snake. Later,
our minds remember the snake instead of the sunset because it doesn’t want us to wander back into the snake’s vicinity. Unfortunately, our brains stick to this pattern even when we’re not in physical danger. That means you’re more likely to remember the one piece of cake you had last week than all of the delicious, healing foods you ate at every other meal, and you’re more likely to notice your eye wrinkles than the fact that you’re slimmer and happier.
If you feel yourself slipping into a negative, self-critical rut, try to take a mental step back and consciously notice the positive. If your brain is whispering that you aren’t enough, it’s playing a lousy April Fools’ prank. Remember how far you’ve come, and if that fails, turn to the sisterhood. We can help you see the truth: You’re strong, you’re powerful, and you’re loved.
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