Maybe...

Recently, a friend was sharing with me that she was having some anxious feelings about going to an event with new people. Before the event, she was noticing self-critical thoughts such as "I am not very interesting...they might not like me...and what if they don't think my sense of humor is funny?" What I know to be true about this woman is that she is super interesting, everyone likes her, and she is very funny,

She told me she tried something new before the event and it really helped her re-frame her thinking - she said to herself "maybe I am interesting....maybe they will like me...maybe they will think I am funny." She noticed the anxious feelings lessen and she enjoyed the event more than she thought she would.

There is power in the word "maybe."

Try adding the word "maybe" to your thoughts this week:

• I'm not going to do very well - maybe I will.

• I'm not strong enough for this - maybe I am.

• This is going to be miserable - maybe it won't be.

• I have no talents - maybe I do.

• That was a horrible decision - maybe it wasn't.

• I can't figure out my purpose - maybe I can.

• I'm not a good friend - maybe I am.

• I'm going to fail - maybe I won't.

• I'm not the right size - maybe I am.

• It is too late - maybe it isn't.

• I'm not the one - maybe I am.

• This isn't going to happen - maybe it will.

• I won't be chosen - maybe I will.

• I am afraid I will fall - maybe I will fly.

• It will hurt - maybe it won't.

• I can't - maybe I can.

The neuroscience behind this tool is that we feel a dose of hope in our brain when we use the word "maybe." It brings a sense of possibility and potential. Hope has been widely researched as a feeling that results in a release of dopamine which leads to healing, optimism, and happiness in our psyches.

Hope is the belief that things will get better than they are right now. Hope comes very naturally to some of our brains and takes a little more effort for some of us.

Dr, John Medina is the author of Brain Rules for Aging Well and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. According to Dr. Medina's research, optimism and hope can actually increase your life span by nearly eight years.

Practice challenging yourself to flip your thoughts into a "maybe...." statement of the opposite sentiment. Challenge your brain when it tells you something - stretch your mind to see if there is another way to view your thoughts.

A little dose of hope might be just the thing we all need right now!

Maybe...

Sending you love as you explore hope-filled possibilities,
Ginger