There’s a reason why social media algorithms reward trollish behaviour.

A reason why the best news stories are about the worst topics—inflation, tragedy, scandal.

Why we pay attention to bullshit more than beauty.

“We jog toward pleasure but we run from pain.”

Some say this is at the core of human motivation: the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

Let’s talk about the latter.

Our brains are always on high alert. We’re always on the lookout for danger. We’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

It’s how we’re wired. It’s how we’ve survived as a species for so long.

Which was super helpful when being eaten by a saber-toothed tiger was a real possibility. But this is 2025 and this is the modern world.

Now, your biggest threat is often your own mind. Because it’s always on guard. Its primal state is watchful and fearful. It always looks for what’s out of place, always wonders what’s wrong.

It’s why you’re more likely to reflect on what you didn’t do instead of what you did do. The goals you missed, not the ones you reached.

It’s why a lot of people ruminate over a past mistake instead of celebrating their current success. Or focus on what makes them unhappy instead of what brings them joy.

Maybe you’re one of those people. Like I am.

Maybe you want to break the pattern. Like I do.

Even if we can’t undo millions of years of evolution, we can be more aware of our behaviour. And of our thoughts.

We can try to flip the script.

So, be intentional about how you think as you move through the day.

Did versus did not. Wins over losses. Good before bad.

Reinforce the positive instead of the negative.

Think better.