Mental subtraction (DW#659)
The practice of mental subtraction grew out of a series of experiments designed by UC Berkeley Professor Dr. Laura Kray and her colleagues. She asked people to imagine how their lives would look if a critical past turning point had never happened (e.g., meeting their spouse, getting accepted into college/university, getting a big promotion, meeting a dear friend or mentor). When the people in the experiment "mentally subtracted" this important event from their lives, it led to an increased sense of meaning and appreciation for what they had in their lives at the present time.
The practice of mental subtraction helps us pause for a moment, it bolsters feelings that life has been meaningful, and it creates a deep sense of appreciation. Rather than succumbing to the pitfall of comparing our blessings to someone who (seemingly) has more than us, the practice compares our current state with an imagined version of ourselves who has less.
So: Imagine what would your life be like without certain people or things. What if you had no running water? What if you had no bed? What if you had no cups to drink out of? What if there were no stop signs on the road? What if umbrellas had never been invented?
As you can see, the possibilities of this practice are as vast as our imaginations. And it can be much more fun than complaining about the trivial irritants in our lives!
Join our blog!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.