Are you negative?

[les]

I think I tend toward optimism, as I am a generally happy person. When I have negative thoughts, I recognize them, determine whether they are warranted and/or helpful, and try to restructure those thoughts so they are more positive and solution-focused.

My answers to the linked article's embedded quiz were almost all "no" or "rarely."

[winnied]

I've been working on being less negative for years. H is the same way and we both know it's a problem. We know when we're being negative it's just a touch habit to break.

[Deleted]

Interesting...I was just thinking about this last night when I was laying in bed. I was saying my nightly prayers and thinking about how lucky/fortunate I feel at this point in my life...sometimes I feel like things are going TOO well and I'm due for something awful to happen. I feel like I know so many people (or maybe they are just the prolific facebook posters!) who constantly have something terrible going on in their lives and I was wondering last night if the disparity is really as great as it seems to be or if it is just what people tend to focus on...or maybe a combo of both...Anyway, I don't think I am negative except that I do have a fair amount of anxiety (always thinking about the what ifs...). If I could get rid of that, I'd be doing great!

[ddi741]

I try my hardest not to be because I have people close to me that are very negative and it drives me nuts.
me: "It's a sunny day"
them"It's too bright"

me: "that restaurant was good"
them:"their portions are just too big"

It's really exhausting.

[M]

I'm generally a pretty negative person, but I've changed over the past few years and started looking at things in a different point of view. Now, I may be naive and possibly in denial about reality but I don't care because I feel emotionally happier and physically healthier (if that makes sense). Most of my answers were yes to the questions so I know deep down I'm still pretty negative about things, but I quickly over looked it and think about the positive things.

[rachelgreen]

I have had many conversations with DH about this same topic and some of this I have told him almost verbatim. I think I'll send him this article. I tell him all the time, "I've had to go through so many shitty things in life but every day it's a choice I make when I wake up to be positive and to not dwell on the negative."

[Deleted]

Great article.

[randp1]

i consider myself a negative person - even though i don't want to be. although i dont' think i'm an extreme case. i think people are predisposed to be one or the other. i often think "i wish i could be more positive". DH's theory is that my blood type is B negative. i've often wondered if all the negative people have a blood type with a negative RH factor. crazy, i know.

[Deleted]

It's not really that easy.

[krisandgrace]

Nov 20, 2013 16:21:32 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

It's not really that easy.

Please tell me that is your Christmas card.

I can go down the rabbit hole of negativity depending on what is going on. My aunt starts chemo today and I have very little patience with anyone right now. I really just need to stay away from people as much as possible. I know it will pass, it always does.

[Deleted]

I am tired of people using the word grateful. It should be up there with artisan on the list of most over-used, annoying, meaningless words.

[Deleted]

Nov 20, 2013 16:26:21 GMT -5 @champagna said:

Nov 20, 2013 16:21:32 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

It's not really that easy.

I've realized the danger of your new siggy pic and it's that I can't take anything you say seriously. I keep wanting to laugh because it's like the floating cat head is speaking. I'm sorry.

[Deleted]

Hmm I don't know.

I tend to be critical and that's not good. I can be complainy, but sometimes I'm really positive. I usually assume best intent in people.

I don't feel like a classic victim, but I tend to have a lot anxiety, so I am trying to feel less responsible for everything. I do not necessarily give myself a lot of credit when good things happen.

[protozoa]

Any article that references the "Love or Above Spiritual Toolkit" is a No for me. If that makes me negative, I don't want to be positive.