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How do I stop being so negative?
- Thread starter Axtman
- Start date
This ^.
Investing one's abilities in aiding others to offer the less fortunate in one's community a hand up is not only a good social investment, it will also improve one's outlook via noble deeds done in the fellowship of positive-thinking folks--some of whom will become upbeat new friends.
Take up some kind of new active hobby. I was pretty much a social hermit untill I started skating recently.
As a negative person (cynical pessimist) you sound depressed more so than being a pessimist. There is a massive difference between the two. One is an emotional state while the other is a outlook/matter of perspective. You can be happy and be a pessimist, it just makes situations awkward when bad things happen.
Most people surround themselves with like minded people. That's just nature.
This may sound flip, but there is a lot of truth in it
SAD is very real - I live it every year. The same thing can happen if you work a night shift
Exercise almost every day.
Get out in the sun.
Drink lots of water.
Get out of toxic relationships.
The last one is the hardest.
Get out in the sun.
Drink lots of water.
Get out of toxic relationships.
The last one is the hardest.
Axtman,
The easiest way is pot. Not enough to get you stoned - just a very tiny amount. That being said: I do not endorse substances as a means to alter your mood, but I'd be a liar if I told you that it wouldn't work. Be forewarned that if you use any type of drug to make yourself feel better, you WILL become psychologically dependant on it, which spells addiction - this is a very scary thing.
The way I suggest is daily exercise and a multivitamin (unless you eat properly) every morning. Jogging or walking will do. Maybe golf if you have the cash for it. I'm young, but I have some expierence with depression. Both these avenues (at least in my case) will accomplish what you want. I'll leave it to you to determine if either of them are suitable.
The easiest way is pot. Not enough to get you stoned - just a very tiny amount. That being said: I do not endorse substances as a means to alter your mood, but I'd be a liar if I told you that it wouldn't work. Be forewarned that if you use any type of drug to make yourself feel better, you WILL become psychologically dependant on it, which spells addiction - this is a very scary thing.
The way I suggest is daily exercise and a multivitamin (unless you eat properly) every morning. Jogging or walking will do. Maybe golf if you have the cash for it. I'm young, but I have some expierence with depression. Both these avenues (at least in my case) will accomplish what you want. I'll leave it to you to determine if either of them are suitable.
Remember the old saying, "The pessimist has better data"?
It's true.
"Negativity" and "depression" are entirely the appropriate reactions to the world by an intelligent, percipient person.
Optimism is a delusion. It's a clinical fact that "normal" people consistently "look on the bright side" with happier expectations far more than the subsequent events warrant, but this delusion is apparently a survival mechanism that "negative" people lack -- in exchange for a higher intelligence and a clarity that "normal" people don't have.
People are usually negative and depressed because these are appropriate reactions.
The people I see who are not depressed are those who are absolutely absorbed in various idiocies of pop culture and their own imbecile enthusiasms, withdrawal from which puts them into depressive tailspins in about 48 hours. These people can't be alone with themselves for more than a few hours without becoming antsy and anxious.
So...how do you keep your awareness of the world from killing you?
Stay busy and distracted, like the normals do with their mass frivolities, but with more personally significant stuff, like your family or music or hobbies.
Completely withdraw from "issues" you cannot materially effect. Don't "care" and "feel" about stuff over which you have no control, which is nearly everything the media is screaming at you about in order to keep you in a state of anxiety -- so that seeking comfort you'll compulsively buy from their advertisers and "stay tuned" for more real and imaginary crises to get your anxiety fix.
Indifference is not only a completely appropriate reaction to things that are out of your control, it's the only healthy one.
One of the interesting things about really brilliant and successful people is that they have an insular existence and outlook relative to a "normal" person.
It's true.
"Negativity" and "depression" are entirely the appropriate reactions to the world by an intelligent, percipient person.
Optimism is a delusion. It's a clinical fact that "normal" people consistently "look on the bright side" with happier expectations far more than the subsequent events warrant, but this delusion is apparently a survival mechanism that "negative" people lack -- in exchange for a higher intelligence and a clarity that "normal" people don't have.
People are usually negative and depressed because these are appropriate reactions.
The people I see who are not depressed are those who are absolutely absorbed in various idiocies of pop culture and their own imbecile enthusiasms, withdrawal from which puts them into depressive tailspins in about 48 hours. These people can't be alone with themselves for more than a few hours without becoming antsy and anxious.
So...how do you keep your awareness of the world from killing you?
Stay busy and distracted, like the normals do with their mass frivolities, but with more personally significant stuff, like your family or music or hobbies.
Completely withdraw from "issues" you cannot materially effect. Don't "care" and "feel" about stuff over which you have no control, which is nearly everything the media is screaming at you about in order to keep you in a state of anxiety -- so that seeking comfort you'll compulsively buy from their advertisers and "stay tuned" for more real and imaginary crises to get your anxiety fix.
Indifference is not only a completely appropriate reaction to things that are out of your control, it's the only healthy one.
One of the interesting things about really brilliant and successful people is that they have an insular existence and outlook relative to a "normal" person.
You've given me something of a minor epiphany. Please don't turn ********. One of the people I look up to recently did just that and I'm still upset about it.
I'd try to get to the bottom of the WHY you are negative about stuff. What are of your life are you not happy with, perhaps, that is weighing down on you, and coming out in other places. If you figure that out, you can try to fix it, and once it's fixed, you can be happier about the rest of it...
You'll have to change the way you think. It's nothing that simple cognition exercises can't help to fix.
One thing we used to have groups do for an exercise was this: For every negative situation you're in, find 2 positive things about the situation.
Do this whenever you see yourself finding the cloud instead of the silver lining. Ironically, the exercise was called "finding the silver lining." It's not always easy, but it can be done.
I'd also advise:
Disregard negative self-talk and flip it into something more positive when you notice yourself doing it.
Avoid pessimistic people, as they will not help your cause much.
I also agree with what much of Bongo said. Especially, "don't worry or care about things you can't control." Worrying about something will not help change the situation, so it's a waste of good energy.
One thing we used to have groups do for an exercise was this: For every negative situation you're in, find 2 positive things about the situation.
Do this whenever you see yourself finding the cloud instead of the silver lining. Ironically, the exercise was called "finding the silver lining." It's not always easy, but it can be done.
I'd also advise:
Disregard negative self-talk and flip it into something more positive when you notice yourself doing it.
Avoid pessimistic people, as they will not help your cause much.
I also agree with what much of Bongo said. Especially, "don't worry or care about things you can't control." Worrying about something will not help change the situation, so it's a waste of good energy.
Surely recognising that you are being negative solves the problem?
Think to your self "Im being negative, today im going to be posivite", look at things in a positive light, think to your self "At least im not ____"
Think to your self "Im being negative, today im going to be posivite", look at things in a positive light, think to your self "At least im not ____"
