Have you ever wondered why bad experiences seem to stick in our minds longer than good ones? It's all thanks to something called negativity bias, a natural instinct of our brains. But don’t worry! We have the tools to train our brains to focus on the positive and boost our happiness. In this blog, we'll explore how positive reinforcement dog training is one great tool to help transform thinking patterns and promote a brighter outlook on all aspects of life.

Understanding Negativity Bias: Negativity bias is a psychological phenomenon where our brains tend to give more weight to negative experiences, emotions, or information than positive ones. It's like having a built-in radar for negativity, which can lead to heightened sensitivity to threats, increased anxiety, and a tendency to dwell on past failures or setbacks.

Why we have have it: Negativity bias evolved as a survival mechanism to keep our ancestors safe from potential dangers in their environment. By prioritizing negative information, such as threats or hazards, our ancestors were more likely to take precautions and avoid harm, thus increasing their chances of survival. This bias helped them stay vigilant and react quickly to potential risks, contributing to their survival in challenging and unpredictable environments.

Do we really need it anymore? While negativity bias was beneficial for our ancestors in identifying threats, it can be detrimental in modern life. Constantly focusing on negative thoughts or experiences can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and a skewed perception of reality. In today's world, where the threats are often more nuanced and complex, an overactive negativity bias can hinder our ability to see opportunities, find joy, and maintain a balanced mental outlook.

How to overcome it: To overcome negativity bias, we need to actively train our minds to focus on the positive aspects of life. Think on this. throughout our day, there are both good and bad things that occur, yet we tend to give much more time and energy to the negative things. What if we could teach our brains to focus on the positive aspects and give more power to these?

Training Minds with Positivity: Positive reinforcement dog training is all about looking for the positive behaviors your dog does and rewarding them with treats, praise, or playtime. By engaging in this training method, you are training your own brain to look for and acknowledge the good things that occur. Your dog may still engage in negative behaviors, but you teach your brain not to focus on them, but instead ask for a positive behavior to reward. Similarly, when we focus on positive thoughts and experiences, we train our brains to seek out and appreciate the good stuff.

Positive Power in Action:

1. Rewiring Thought Patterns: Just as we teach dogs new behaviors through positive reinforcement, we teach our brains to think positively and proactively.

2. Cultivating Gratitude: By focusing on the good things in life, we cultivate a sense of gratitude and appreciation for what we have.

3. Improving Relationships: Positive thinking fosters empathy, understanding, and a focus on strengths rather than weaknesses, creating a more fulfilling connection between individuals.

4. Building Resilience: Positive reinforcement training contributes to building mental resilience, helping us bounce back from challenges with a positive mindset.

By harnessing the power of positive reinforcement dog training , we can train our minds to focus on the positive aspects of life. It's not about ignoring challenges or negative experiences but rather shifting our perspective to see opportunities for growth and joy. Let's start on this journey of positive transformation together and unlock the full potential of our minds and hearts.

ACTION STEPS: START POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING TODAY

The best place to start with positive reinforcement dog training is with Kathy Sdao’s method called Smart 50. It’s very simple and fun!

Step 1: Set out 50 low calorie, small treats (size of your pinky tip) in a central location in your home

Step 2: Look for your dog to do something you like. Examples could be lying down at your feet, walking to door to go outside, coming up to you for pets, looking at you when you say their name, etc.

Step 3 Mark the behavior you noticed. This is done with a clicker or a word like “yes” or “good” and give a treat.

Step 4: Repeat 50 times a day!

*You will be amazed to see your dog start to repeat the behaviors he/she was rewarded for right away!

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Carrie Raap at R+ Therapy is in Tucson, AZ. Carrie is an online therapist with more than 20 years experience. Her therapeutic specialties include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy addressing depression, anxiety, stress management, coping, and making positive changes. She has numerous credentials, including a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) and a license in clinical social work (LCSW). She is also a Certified Service Dog Trainer and loves blending these passions to help people improve their mental health with Canine Assisted Therapy .