Page 17 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Spring Giver 2026

What you Notice Matters

by Stacy Underhill

Have you ever noticed how easy it is you’re grateful for, or what you loved
to spot what’s wrong? A slow driver. A about your day or your life. Some days
critical comment. An angry video. you might fill a page with all the positive
Our brains are wired with what interactions you had or the discounts you
scientists call a “negativity bias.” For found at the grocery store. It doesn’t have
survival, we evolved to scan for threats to be profound. On other days you might
and problems, and it kept our ancestors struggle to find something and write:
alive. But in today’s world, that same 1. my cat,
wiring can leave us focusing on what’s 2. running water,
missing or irritating. 3. my cat.
The good news? We can retrain it by After a few days, you’ll find yourself
finding things to appreciate and noticing more and thinking, Oh, that lady
practicing gratitude. was kind. I’ll write that down tonight. Or
This is not about ignoring real you might catch the light through the
challenges. It’s teaching your brain to trees and smile a little longer..
also notice what’s working. Our brains have something called You can practice gratitude in the morning to set the tone
the Reticular Activating System, the part that filters what gets for your day and prime your mind to look for what’s going
your attention. When you repeatedly focus on appreciation, right. Or you can reflect in the evening, which helps calm
your brain begins scanning for more evidence to match it. your nervous system and sends you off to sleep with peaceful
The more things you find to appreciate, the happier you’ll thoughts. Or do both!
feel. Over time, gratitude changes what you notice. And when
A simple exercise is to sit down and write three things what you notice changes, how you feel naturally follows.

Giv’er Miramichi is published by MCG Media 17