“Spot the Good Stuff” (STGS) is a positive psychology practice that encourages individuals to actively seek and focus on the positive aspects of their lives, even in the midst of challenges or difficult situations.
Evolutionary psychology holds that the human mind has evolved to prioritize certain information and behaviors that enhance our survival and reproduction. Negativity bias[1], a concept within this framework, suggests that humans have a tendency to pay more attention to, remember, and react strongly to negative stimuli, such as threats or dangers, compared to positive ones.
In today’s world, where many of the immediate survival threats have been mitigated, the bias can lead to an overemphasis on negative information and also distort our perception of reality. In the modern context, therefore, there is a growing need to consciously counteract this bias by intentionally fostering a more balanced and positive perspective on life.
The secular rosary comes in as a contemporary mindfulness tool designed to help individuals continuously focus on “Spotting the Good Stuff” (STGS) in their daily lives. Much like its traditional counterpart, the secular rosary consists of a series of beads or tokens, each representing a unique aspect of positivity or gratitude. As users move through the rosary, they are prompted to reflect on and express appreciation for the small, often-overlooked blessings in life. The practice typically involves the following steps:
- Awareness: First, individuals are encouraged to become more aware of the positive or uplifting moments in their lives. This could include small everyday occurrences like a beautiful sunset, a compliment from a friend, or a personal accomplishment.
- Notice and Acknowledge: Once a positive experience is recognized, individuals are encouraged to take a moment to notice and acknowledge it. This involves fully engaging with the positive experience, savoring it, and giving it their full attention.
- Express Gratitude: The next step is to express gratitude for the positive experience. This can be done internally by simply acknowledging the appreciation for what went well, or externally by sharing it with others, perhaps by telling someone about the positive experience.
- Record It: Keeping a journal or a record of these positive experiences is often recommended. This can help individuals build a repository of positive moments to reflect on during challenging times.
- Duplicate: The key to the “Spotting the Good Stuff” practice is to make it a routine. Consistently looking for and appreciating positive experiences in daily life helps to shift one’s focus toward positivity and resilience.
The secular happiness rosary provides opportunity for users to seek out moments of joy, kindness, and optimism in their lives, even in the face of challenges. The secular rosary can be a transformative tool for individuals seeking to cultivate a more positive and resilient mindset, by helping them to navigate life’s ups and downs with a greater sense of joy, gratitude and hope.
[1] https://www.christophertsmith.com/uploads/3/7/4/4/37446679/negativity_bias_negativity_dominance_and_contagion.pdf