Can you watch the Olympics and CHOOSE to appreciate the athleticism, dedication and courage, in spite of any controversy, politics, accusations, etc.? Can you see each performance for it’s success and grace rather than focusing on errors? For some, this is natural, for others, it can be quite an exercise itself.

When you begin to consciously shift your awareness from the ‘negative,’ aspects to the positive, you change the wiring in your brain to a more healthy state. To change any part of the brain, you have to somehow directly stimulate it, and I don’t suggest sticking electrodes in your brain! So, stimulate it through direct behavior/thought change. This has the same basic effect, without all the headache and scars. Practice this shift from the negative to the positive repeatedly, and it will become more second nature.

Neurophysiology research is showing that the old patterns are more likely to be re-activated during stressful times (Neuropsychotherapy, Klaus Grawe, 2006). If you’d like to minimize that possibility, then practice the shift more often, and with more mindfulness in the beginning—I mean, really choose it; whatever the behavior/thought change is. . . if you want it to truly be a lifelong change, then you will likely need to engage it whenever you can. And when it comes to being more healthy, positive and happy, why not practice it as often as you can? Certainly remember that it’s inappropriate to be grinning from ear to ear in certain situations. But even in sad situations, can you find the peacefulness? Can you remember the better times and choose to do whatever you can to move yourself towards new better times? Please note, this does NOT mean not being present, or denying the situation for what it is—as a matter of fact, what I am suggesting pretty much requires you to first be mindful of the present reality as it exists; THEN move into shifting of your focus . . . Accept the reality, then change the focus. For most, this shift won’t seem to work every time you try it, but it does become easier to access, even if delayed.

The GATE is intended to help you remember how to recognize when you are out of your center (and this usually means more likely to focus on the negative), AND how to return to your center. I am going to post more on the GATE concept/philosophy soon; in the meantime, please visit www.gatehealing.com/thegate.htm. GATE is an acronym: Genuineness, Awareness, Trust, Empathy.