One of the great blessings and curses of being human is our ability to live in multiple time zones simultaneously.
We replay the past, analyze the present, and imagine the future. This ability built civilizations, spurred invention, and solved problems. It also fuels a constant attention struggle.
Our brains weren’t designed for happiness, but for survival, constantly scanning for threats—recalling past mistakes, sensing trouble, or warning of impending failure.
Psychologists refer to this as our negativity bias or negative default mode. It is not a flaw. It is a survival feature.
Here is the catch.
Negative experiences last. Our brains store memories of danger because they once helped keep us safe. Positive experiences fade quickly as they pose no survival threat.
That is why a single criticism can echo in your mind for years, while ten compliments disappear by the end of the day.
The Real Cost of Negativity Bias
The true cost of this bias is not just stress or worry, but that it quietly drains your most valuable resource—your attention.
Your attention.
Money, technology, and cryptocurrency are the future of currencies. But the true currency is your focus. Where attention goes, life follows.
When your attention is invested in fear, regret, or imagined failure, you pour your energy into a state of survival. You may stay alert, but you never feel fully alive.
When you focus on gratitude and possibility, you step out of your negative default. You’re not ignoring reality, just choosing how to engage with it.
Retraining Your Focus
Shifting focus to what’s going well requires practice. That’s the heart of my book, What’s Going Well? The goal isn’t to deny difficulty, but to build strength to face it.
This practice helps leaders and teams notice what works and gain resilience for what doesn’t.
Here are three simple ways to begin.
Start by asking, “What’s going well?”
This single question interrupts your brain’s threat scan and invites a broader view of reality. It slows the rush to judgment and opens the door to awareness.
Extend the shelf life of positive moments.
Don’t rush past progress. Write down your wins, say them out loud, or linger with them so your brain can store them. This retrains what your mind remembers.
Guard your attention like it matters.
Every distraction and fear-driven headline or scroll withdraws its energy from you. Spend attention on people, ideas, and practices that strengthen you.
A Final Thought
Your brain will always be on the lookout for danger. That is its job. But you get to decide what you feed it.
Wealth isn’t in your bank account, but your focus account. Guard it. Invest it. Grow it. Because your life will always follow your attention.