Humans have a 3:1 Negativity Bias

Psychological research has shown that humans have a 3:1 negativity bias as our default setting in storing memories. The brain naturally stores negative memories faster and stronger than positive ones.

Neuroscience and evolution give us a simple explanation. It was much more important to remember danger and threats long ago than to remember positive or happy incidents. If we remember the snake and the hot stove, we are more likely to avoid them — and survive.

On the other hand, when we store negative memories, consciously or subconsciously, we are prone to triggering those memories and emotions when we encounter similar experiences. It is your choice what you remember and how you decide to file that memory in your brain.

When stored as a positive, like a lesson learned, we can take something that wasn’t a great performance on a station or event and remember the lesson learned from that event or situation.