Building Positivity Through Nature, Neuroscience and Positive Psychology
- Dr Jan Macfarlane
- May 11, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 15, 2025
A Personal Reflection on Nature and Learning
It’s May already, and the lighter nights are so appreciated. I love the extended days, it makes me feel so much is possible. It invokes a personal positivity for the future, and I take the chance to be in nature as much as possible. I especially enjoy being by the coast, experiencing the beauty of the sea and its changing patterns.
This year, as part of my own learning, I have focused on how we can protect our beaches as they are so dear to me. Coincidentally, I have recently read that scientists at the University of Bristol are undertaking long-term pioneering research in exploring how babies and toddlers initially develop the key skills that help them focus and learn (www.bbc.com).
Understanding the Link Between Mothers, Babies and Brain Development
We all know these skills are essential, but we do not currently know when they are created in an infant’s brain and how individual this is. Interestingly, the research is embedded in another project that is studying the health of the mothers of these children. The aim is to potentially find connections between the brain development of the child and the genetic and health factors of the mother that could then affect them. They explain that in order to learn new things, we need to learn new habits, and this will help children thrive.
The Power and Promise of Positive Psychology
This project underlies the philosophy of Positive Psychology, which is centred around scientifically studying what helps us flourish by using our strengths and mindfully utilising our emotions and experiences to improve our wellbeing. It helps us to develop a growth mindset and increase our resilience (Peterson, 2008; Seligman, 2011).
It can help us to change perspective through a range of valid interventions that are easy to use and enjoyable to carry out. They include examples such as being aware of our own character strengths, developing mindfulness, experiencing gratitude, demonstrating kindness and appreciating self-compassion. They do not and cannot promise a life devoid of upset, anger, depression and anxiety, but they do help provide us with tools to help manage our emotions and thoughts when these life events occur. It is therefore important that we see balance as key.
Rewiring the Brain: The Science of Neuroplasticity
It is now accepted that we are naturally wired to see the ‘negative’ and not the ‘positive’ as part of our survival so we can identify risk and danger. We are obviously at the behest of our genetic code which lends us to be more optimistic or more pessimistic. We are, of course, equally shaped by our life experiences. Yet, there remains untapped potential to change …. If we want to.
I often thought the brain was fixed by our late 20's, I now know this is wrong as the brain can change its structure and rewire its circuitry. This process is known as neuroplasticity. It can actually take up to three months to develop new cells from behaviour change. However, as we know, changing behaviour can be difficult as we often revert back to what we are used to.
The key is therefore to do little and often to strengthen this process and decide which techniques are more natural as the chance of success will be greater. It is useful to note they are not about being ‘happy’ all the time, this is unrealistic. Likewise, it is important to remember the techniques can be used by almost anyone as they are flexible and help set goals that are achievable to increase our positivity.
Why Positive Psychology Works - And Who It’s For
Positive Psychology programmes have now been used internationally with adults and children, inciting over 10,000 studies promoting their effectiveness in relationships, education, mental health, workplaces and many other areas of life. One of the big benefits is that not only do we feel better, but this feeling of wellbeing is contagious and affects those around us at home and at work.
We know that the strong bond that develops between babies/children and their care givers is vital for their physical and emotional health. In order to increase chances of success parents and early years carers could consider how to harness some of the positive psychology principles that are of interest to them to experience the effects themselves and pass them on accordingly.
Practical Wellbeing in Early Years and Parenting
Both parenting and working in early years are arenas of frequent change and can often be stressful. Often our own coping methods can be counter-productive or are taken for granted, leaving us exhausted and we frequently have difficulties in switching off.
Consequently, it makes sense to explore how to further our capacity for healthy behaviours and improve our opportunities to live our life to the full. Understanding the theory and the practical application of positive psychology helps us to role model it to those in our care, members of our family and our work colleagues. There are clearly lots of things that we cannot control, but we can exercise some control on ourselves and direct our energies to those that will be the most useful for the benefit of all.
Three Activities to Try Today
I intend to cover other positive techniques in future blogs, but as 3 starter activities to try to develop awareness of positive emotions why not:
1. Complete the Three Good Things (Seligman et al., 2005).
This is one of the best-known exercises in positive psychology as it is so easy to use with friends/family/children and allows you to deepen your connections. We know that focusing on the positive reduces ruminating on the negative, which in turn supports us in achieving a healthier balance. (This can be adapted in a work environment by focusing on teamwork and sharing three good things that happened on shift and sharing them with colleagues.)
• Plan a regular 5 mins of time in your everyday schedule to reflect and recall three positive things that you have experienced. You could write them down to see if any themes present themselves over time -you can choose anything big or small - it’s your positivity after all.
• The most important thing is that you then share them with someone else, and you could describe why you thought they were positive and the feelings surrounding them.
• You could then ask the other person/child to reciprocate and share together this important connection for them.
• Using a diary or journal or stickers on a calendar is often an effective activity to remind ourselves of the good in our lives.
2. Try going a full day with no moans or put-downs
Don’t cheat - it may be harder than you think! Start with an hour if you think that would be a more achievable goal.
3. If you want to read more around the subject check out this link:
I hope you find the content interesting and are inspired to have a go at the activities to develop your own focus, learning and self-awareness around developing your positivity.
Regards,
Dr Jan
References:
BBC, (2025). What goes on inside toddler brains? A pioneering project is trying to find out
Peterson, C.(2008). What is positive psychology and what is it not? Psychology Today.
http//www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-good-life/200805/what-is-positive-psychology-and-what-is-it-not
Seligman, M. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York City, NY: Atria
Seligman, M., Steen,T., Park ., & Peterson, S. (2005). Positive psychology progress : Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60, 410-421.
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