Collecting Evidence of What’s Working
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned as a coach, and as a human being, is this:
Our brains are not wired to notice what’s going well.
They are designed to keep us safe.
That means they are constantly scanning for danger. Looking for threats. Staying on high alert for what could go wrong, rather than what’s already going right.
It’s called negativity bias, a well-studied function of the brain that kept our ancestors alive when danger really did lurk around every corner. It’s the reason you can get twenty kind words from a co-worker or family member, but dwell on the one piece of critical feedback. Or why you can cross off ten tasks on your list and fixate on the one you didn’t finish.
The bias itself isn’t a problem. In fact, it’s proof that your brain is working exactly as it was designed to.
The problem arises when we only believe biased stories, assuming that the bad is the whole truth.
That’s why one of the most valuable practices we can create, especially as parents, partners, coaches, and leaders, is to collect evidence of everything that is working intentionally.
What It Looks Like
I keep a small “evidence journal,” a simple notebook where I record moments, choices, and observations that remind me things are, in fact, going well.
And here’s the key: the entries don’t have to be massive or dramatic to be meaningful.
Sometimes it’s:
I got ten hours of sleep last night because I intentionally set myself up to go to bed early.
I honored my commitment to only watch the news once this week and noticed how much calmer my nervous system felt afterward.
I looked out the window this morning and saw wind in the trees, bumble bees in the lavender plants, and sunlight pouring into the kitchen.
Other times it’s:
A coaching client hit a huge milestone.
I completed four tasks in my business today.
I asked for help when I needed it.
The point is not the size of the evidence. It’s the fact that I’m collecting it.
Each entry counters the brain’s automatic bias toward the negative. Each line whispers: Look. Things are working. You are working. The world is still alive, beautiful, and full of possibilities.
This Matters
As I gather more evidence, it becomes easier to resist my brain's tendency to pull me back into fear, comparison, or despair.
Instead of spiraling into “nothing is working,” I can open my notebook and see proof: small acts of courage, moments of beauty, signs of growth.
It doesn’t erase the challenges. It balances them out.
And that balance changes everything: my energy, my mood, my willingness to take action, and my belief in what’s possible.
For You
Try this practice this week. You don’t need a fancy notebook; just a simple, easy-to-use journal to document the evidence. It can be small enough to carry with you, to keep in your car, or one that fits easily onto your bedside table.
Each day, write down at least one piece of evidence of what’s working:
Something you did.
Something you noticed.
Something you’re proud of.
Something beautiful that reminded you the world is still alive and filled with joyous moments.
And when the negative bias pulls at you (because it will), go back and read what you’ve gathered.
Let it remind you:
Your brain is not broken. It’s working as it was designed to.
You are not failing. Instead, you have proof of all your progress and successes.
There is so much evidence of good, of growth, of light, both in you and around you.
You just have to collect it.
For Reflection:
What’s one piece of evidence you can collect today, something small, simple, or quiet that proves things are working?
With immense appreciation & gratitude. Always.
