expand

According to Broaden-and-Build Theory, experiences of positive emotion extend your momentary thought-action repertoire; they allow for more thoughts and emotions to come to mind. In contrast, negative emotions tend to have the opposite effect; they encourage a narrowing of focus.

Now, negative emotions and a narrow focus aren’t all bad; being singularly centred on an adaptive action can protect. Feeling fear when you hear weird noises while walking down a dark street late at night will, for example, narrow the possibilities that spring to mind and focus your attention on the need to run away.

But we are no longer regularly nudged by woolly mammoths and chased by wildebeasts. And given that, we are more likely than folk.before.us to benefit from the broadening of focus that comes with positive emotions. Feelings like joy, interest, pride or love promote the urge to play, explore, savour, share and expand the self. The stuff that, nowadays, contributes to heightened wellbeing.

It’s why I choose to wear colour. Old-school dresses in bubblegum.hues make me happy. And that in turn encourages a more expansive relationship with the World Out There.

[love.love]