Life is a cycle of good times and bad. It’s not linear. There are always going to be ups an downs. But you can still make safe choices.
Looking at the bright: downs help us to appreciate and understand what an up looks like.

Life is not linear

Our brains have a negative bias. Every bad comment or news about us, or around us make a bigger impact on our perception about ourselves and the world than we realize.
Enjoying life starts with shifting our mindset, seeing things in a new way.

The negative bias

“We are not disturbed by things that happen, but rather, by our perception of things that happen.”

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."

The habit of taking even mild pleasure in small things is life-changing:
<ul>
<li>Make time to watch the sunrise</li>
<li>Use your mornings to take care of yourself</li>
<li>Lose track of time with your favourite book</li>
<li>Listen to the sounds of nature</li>
<li>Be present in the moment.</li>
</ul>

Enjoying the little things

“Are you happy? Have you ever been happy? What have you done today to matter? Did you exist or did you live? How did you thrive? (...)"

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience.”

This bias robs us of the joys around us because it causes us to:
<ul>
<li>Worry more than necessary and fear the worst.</li>
<li>Focus on bad narratives for too long.</li>
<li>Play the victims, to get sympathy from others.</li>
<li>Have unrealistic expectations for ourselves.</li>
</ul>

Effects of the negative bias

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. - Oscar Wilde Unless circumstances are extremely beyond your control, and you can't do anything about it, this holds true. Life is a cycle of good times and bad. It's not linear.

BRIAN KRANS

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