Constant worrying, complaining about anything and everything, lack of confidence, gloom and anxiety can be soul-destroying. These are the traits common among negative people. In life, as they say, there will be always good times and bad times too.
Consider this definition of negativity: “A tendency to be downbeat, disagreeable, and skeptical. It's a pessimistic attitude that always expects the worst. Negative outcomes are bad outcomes like losing a game, getting a disease, suffering an injury, or getting something stolen.”
It's natural to feel more pessimistic when things aren't going so well in our lives. Regular or even constant negative thinking can also be a sign of anxiety, depression, stress or low self-esteem. This sounds a bit strange, but negativity can also be contagious.
Negative thought patterns, or cognitive distortions, can manifest as incorrect assumptions, unrealistic self-criticisms, and even the denial of reality itself. Yet, the effects of this thinking can be all too real for someone struggling with their mental health.
Negative thinking can have several causes, including personal factors such as undergoing a traumatic experience. That said, scientists are finding evidence that certain mental health disorders play a critical role in the habitual formation of dark or negative thoughts.
According to Mayo Clinic, there are four main ones to be exact: personalizing, filtering, catastrophizing, and polarizing.
"It is too cold to take a walk." "I do not have the willpower." "I should have eaten less dessert." "I haven't written down everything I eat." "It was my choice. Next time I can decide not to eat so much." "I'm writing down everything I eat because it helps me make better choices."
3 Negative Mindsets that Hold You Back – Guilt, Perfectionism, and Regret. Life can be stressful sometimes, but sometimes the biggest source of stress is your own mind and negative thinking. You may be quick to judge yourself, put too many demands on yourself, or have a hard time letting go of past mistakes.
However, some people are habitually negative and pessimistic. As Bree Maloney mentions, negativity is often a product of depression, insecurity, or bad experiences. It can stem from illness, limiting beliefs, life events, and personality problems. As many other things in life, negativity can become a habit.
Negative people don't know that they are negative. They believe that they are completely rational, that they are realists.
Pessimistic describes the state of mind of someone who always expects the worst. A pessimistic attitude isn't very hopeful, shows little optimism, and can be a downer for everyone else. To be pessimistic means you believe evil outweighs the good and that bad things are more likely to happen.
A toxic person is anyone whose behavior adds negativity and upset to your life. Many times, people who are toxic are dealing with their own stresses and traumas. To do this, they act in ways that don't present them in the best light and usually upset others along the way.
Spending time with negative people can be the fastest way to ruin a good mood. Their pessimistic outlooks and gloomy attitude can decrease our motivation and change the way we feel. But allowing a negative person to dictate your emotions gives them too much power in your life.
Carefully and tactfully handle them. The less you care about their negative behavior, the more you will gain the power to guide yourself towards constructive action. Eventually, when they see that it doesn't impact you, they may learn to stop their rants and take them elsewhere.
A seriously toxic mindset is operating under the belief that you have to do everything yourself. A great leader learns how to delegate well and often, and to make great hires and empower them. Trying to do everything yourself can lead to massive decision fatigue and burnout.
When it comes to anxiety, those with a fixed mindset believe it is just part of who they are and that it can't be changed or controlled. One study found that youth with a fixed mindset were 58% more likely to show severe symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to youth with a growth mindset.
Recurring negative thoughts can be a symptom of both anxiety and depressive disorders. Science has recognized two different forms of repetitive negative thoughts: rumination and worry.
What Is a Thinking Trap? Thinking traps are cognitive distortions—exaggerated or irrational negative thought patterns that can lead us to believe things that aren't necessarily true. These distorted thoughts can be very damaging because they can impact our emotions and behaviors—and lead to depression and anxiety.
If you have a negative attitude, you're more likely to negatively impact everything around you. By taking active steps to cultivate positivity, you can counteract and change a negative attitude. Let go of expectations. Negativity often begins with expectations of yourself or others.
What Causes Negative Self-Talk? Negative self-talk can come from a place of depression, low self-confidence, and anxiety and be part of a more significant mental health concern. However, you may also have habits that are causing negative self-talk.
Examples of Negative Self-Talk
You blame yourself for anything bad that happens with no evidence. You seem to always be beating yourself up. For example, a friend or coworker is in a bad mood and you immediately think it's because you've done something to make them mad.
Whilst everyone experiences negative thoughts now and again, negative thinking that seriously affects the way you think about yourself and the world and even interferes with work/study and everyday functioning could be a symptom of a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders and ...