NEGATIVITY
“The world is full of a lot of fear and negativity,
and a lot of judgment. I think people need to start shifting into joy and happiness.”
—Ellen DeGeneres, American comedian, television host, actress, writer and producer.
Humans have a tendency to be more negative than positive. It’s evolutionary; it helps us to avoid danger and react more quickly to crisis. Our brains also function in a way that can reinforce negative thoughts. Our brains recognize patterns. As neuroscientists say, “neurons that fire together wire together.” Having a negative thought makes it more likely that you will have another negative thought. Spending more time with negative people has the same effect as spending more time thinking negative thoughts.
In some instances, to avoid this evolutionary instinct requires conscious effort. Consciously try to limit your negative thoughts—not by ignoring them but by deemphasizing them and by trying to think more positive thoughts. Do your best to avoid negative people. I know; that’s easier said than done. You may have family members or co-workers that are generally negative. If so, either try to help them by being positive when you’re around them or minimize your interactions with them.
When we witness behavior, our brains mimic it. We share excitement at concerts and sadness at funerals. This process is called mirroring or empathy.
Negative thoughts trigger the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated levels of cortisol have been shown to weaken your immune system, raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Studies have also shown that prolonged exposure to stress can actually impair brain development.
Gratitude can work in the opposite way. Having a positive thought makes it easier for you to have more positive thoughts. Spending more time with positive people will make you more positive.
Try to surround yourself with positive people.
Find things that make you feel good—a warm bath, a child’s smile, being outdoors, music, a massage, an embrace, the smell of lilacs—anything that makes you feel good. These things will help turn off the part of your brain that is wired for negativity and rewire your brain for positivity.
Notice your thoughts. Separate yourself from negative thoughts. When faced with bad news, imagine that your friend is the one who received the bad news. How would you advise them? Examine the news objectively rather than emotionally.
Think of your negative thoughts
as just that—thoughts. Nothing more.
Don’t try to avoid or suppress them. Acknowledge them and address them as you would any other transitory packet of sensory information. You might think, “Oh, there’s that negative thought again. It’s telling me to worry about being late for work.” Instead of worrying, focus on getting to work, apologizing for being late and getting up earlier next time.
Take a deep breath. Controlled breathing can lower stress. Set reasonable goals. Turn problems into challenges or opportunities. Make positivity and gratitude a way of life. Wake up every morning thinking about who and what you are grateful for and how you can replace negativity with gratitude. Doing this as a ritual every morning will literally rewire your brain. It will make you more positive, happy and productive.
