Thread by @DaveKeto

1/ For January, I'm doing one of my most ambitious experiments yet -- it's a Positivity Triad.

Here's the overview:
1. Reverse positives instead of negatives
2. No cussing, even in private
3. Better conditioning toward compliments, away from criticisms

Let's unpack...

2/
1. Reverse positives instead of negatives

This will be the toughest bar to reach. Basically, I'm going to try to phase everything in positive, neutral, or reverse positive terms.

Instead of "I hate <X>"
- "I don't love X"
- "Not psyched about X"
- "Not happy about X"

3/ This might seem like a subtle distinction, but actually it's quite powerful. Reverse positive language gets the central point across about a negative expression, but without language that has a stronger association.

We actually do this instinctively in delicate situations...

4/ Is it less efficient? Maybe at first. Certainly there will be mental effort in conditioning myself in this direction.

But language has short and long term consequences to memory and mood, and I suspect this has a strong payoff in the big picture. Curious if I can pull it off.

5/
2. No cussing, even in private

Full disclosure: as my stress and time has gotten stretched, I've been cussing a little more in private than I usually do (not an every day thing, FWIW, but enough to notice).

Not in January! And hey, this goes nicely with (1) anyway.

6/
3. Better conditioning toward compliments, away from criticisms

Okay, seriously, this should be a conscious effort anyway. I'm going to look for more openings to compliment others not just because it might make them happier, but because it improves my general outlook as well

7/ Not the insincere, overly-obvious kinds of compliments -- but the ones that help really describe the distinctly affirmative aspects about people and things.

I find positivity and negativity are very much momentum-driven. One can't always drive, but they can try to steer it.

8/ You might think that's woo, but there's really a lot of science behind it. People with more positive outlooks live longer, healthier, happier lives.

Much as we focus on diet in this space, I think mental health and outlook gets little attention for its return on investment.

9/ Anyway, we'll see how I do in this experiment. With all the challenges of filming the documentary, I may well be tested on these three tenants.

And perhaps like the #WaterOnlyChallenge, I might find I can just continually extend it. We'll see.