Why Your Brain Focuses on the Negative — and How to Rewire It
- Rosemary Powell, CMS, CHT, FNLP
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
One of the most common patterns I see in my clients is this: They struggle to remember compliments, success, joy, or accomplishments — but they can vividly recall every painful moment and every criticism.
This is not weakness. This is not a personality flaw. This is neuroscience.
There is a term called negativity bias, and it is actually hard-wired inside the human brain. Negative self-talk or rumination. Our brain evolved to constantly scan for anything that could be a threat. Its primary job is to keep us alive, so it prioritizes danger signals over comfort.
As Dr. Clint Steele explains: “Your brain’s ultimate responsibility is to make sure you survive. So when you’re stressed, your brain focuses more on danger and negativity.”
– Dr. Clint Steele
He also explains that chronic stress can impact the cortex of the brain, and that repeated negative focus may contribute to added risk of future brain-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
Negative thinking isn’t just “unpleasant.” It actually creates a long-term stress burden on the brain. This is part of why so many people struggle with anxiety, rumination, and replaying the pain from the past.
The Good News: Your Brain Can Be Retrained
You can teach your brain to shift. Dr. Clint teaches something called pivot thoughts. This is the practice of intentionally shifting your attention to five things that make you genuinely feel:
• joy
• gratitude
• hope
• love
• comfort
This might be a memory…a photo…a song…or a moment that made your heart feel warm.
This is not “toxic positivity.” This is literally retraining your brain’s survival filter. When you shift to positive states, your brain enters a calmer, more balanced mode. Your prefrontal cortex comes back online. Your nervous system shifts from fight-or-flight mode toward a healing mode. And that is where emotional clarity, confidence, and resilience live.
Why Hypnotherapy Accelerates This Shift
Hypnotherapy works directly with the subconscious mind — the part of the brain where these survival patterns were imprinted long before you had awareness or choice.
This is why hypnotherapy is so effective for:
• anxiety
• trauma patterns
• low self-worth
• overthinking
• people pleasing
• chronic guilt or shame
• self-doubt
During hypnotherapy, your brain can enter that healing mode mentioned above — a deeply receptive state. In that state, we can literally rewire the pattern. Your brain does not have to live in survival mode forever. You are allowed to experience peace, safety, confidence, calm, and emotional freedom again.
If you are ready to shift your brain into healing mode…
I invite you to schedule a free discovery call with me. You do not have to continue living in stress, fear, or overthinking. This is not your fault — it is your brain doing its best to protect you. And the beautiful truth is:
Your brain can change.
Your patterns can change.
Your identity can change.
Hypnotherapy can help you get there — faster, and more gently, than trying to do it all on your own.
Book your free hypnotherapy consultation below: