Taking 12 Seconds

When was the last time you focused on something for at least 12 seconds? I ask this because I recently read that 12 seconds is a neurological tipping point. It takes that much time for a positive experience to get stored in our memory banks.

Unfortunately, it takes much less time for negative experiences to be coded into memory. The reason for that is biological and related to survival. Our ancestors were always on the lookout for things that might hurt them in their environment, and they needed to know what was harmful. Negative experiences were “saved” immediately in memory, so they could be easily accessed. Positive experiences weren’t coded so quickly, because they weren’t key to survival.

What does this mean for us today? Well, if we’re doomscrolling or reading the news—which focuses on the negative because negative stories get more hits and traction, and therefore more dollars—we’re building up a mental reservoir of negativity. To counteract this, we need to intentionally spend 12 seconds focusing on positive experiences in order to get them to stay around and help balance out the negative.

How might we do that? When I was recently in Colorado, I realized part of the answer—at least for me. When I take a walk or hike and stop to take a picture of something beautiful or unexpected, I’m automatically giving myself more time with that moment.

Some say that taking photos is distracting, and that can be true if we are focused on “getting it right” or have an agenda with the photograph: “This will work great on Instagram!” But if taking the picture is part of savoring the moment and experiencing it more fully, it can help us spend more time with the experience—rather than keep walking to see what’s next. If we can engage with such moments for at least 12 seconds, we build up a reservoir of positive memories that helps counteract the negative.

Notice I’m saying “balance out” and “counteract” the negative, not eliminate it. We do need to be aware of what’s going on around us—and do our part to work for change in what is harming us and others. I believe we can do this much more effectively when we have that balance in our lives—of what we’re called to do in working for change and of resting in beauty to recover from that work.

In the days ahead, I invite you to spend at least 12 seconds with enchanting or gorgeous moments. Consider how you might expand the time you spend with such moments in order to encode them in your memory.