A negative mentality is profoundly harmful to the the circuitry of the brain.
But no need to respond negatively to that fact. The problem is addressable.
A person who is always sad is like a sad robot. 🤖. They are programmed to be sad all the time. When someone gets used to being negative, the brain normalizes negativity. The conscious brain doesn’t even notice it.
When someone forms a habit, it moves from the part of their brain that is self-aware (the frontal lobes) to deeper parts of their brain that are unconscious and automatic. The more anyone does anything, the less aware they are of it. Thus, negative people are usually not aware of how negative they are.
We have to be very deliberate to become aware of our own negativity.
The good news is that as we become aware of it, our brains become less negative.
Neuro-exercise:
Can you can go an hour without a negative thought or feeling?
Give it a shot
.
This includes worries, doubts, fears, disappointments. When you have a negative thought, write it down. It will help you become more aware.
Don’t be surprised if you have as many as 25 negative thoughts or feelings an hour.
The more you do this exercise, the more you’ll see your negativity drop.
For even faster progress, enlist your brain’s reward circuitry by promising yourself an indulgence if your negativity substantially drops. This exercise will significantly improve your brain’s performance and enrich your experience of life.
Dive Deeper
Lo, C.S.L., Ho, S.M.Y., Yu, N.K.K. et al. Cogn Ther Res (2014) 38: 389. doi:10.1007/s10608-014-9603-2
2-3X Your
Learning Speed
“Silience” Reminds Us of the Brilliance Hidden Everywhere
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows released another beautiful short film that reminds us that our world is drenched in hidden brilliance
The C.R.A.P. Board Technique
Best-selling author and neuroscience expert Mark Waldman developed a powerful tool to stop the brain from ruminating on problems, fears
Why Hope May be the Most Important Thing for Your Brain
Hope is not just some buzzword embroidered into throw pillows on Etsy. It’s neurologically vital. Embracing hope is probably the
Why Too Much Stress is the MVP of Awful for Your Brain & What to do About It
You know what sucks? Being stressed-the-fuck-out does. And if your life sucks that way… 1) Sorry to hear that. For
