While being negative isn’t an ideal way to get through life, let’s be honest, everyone has a negative attitude sometimes. Negativity is part of the full spectrum of characteristics. Being down on something, worried, angry, judgmental, or pessimistic is going to happen. Especially when-
- You’re exhausted
- You’re overwhelmed
- You’re stuck
There are circumstances when negativity is going to boil to the top and make life feel less optimistic. It’s normal! What you do about it is what matters most.
Exhaustion causes negativity- Humans do best when they get enough rest. Physical and emotional rest are the top reasons for self-care. You rarely see well-rested people being crabby over insignificant things. Being emotionally or physically tired can trigger negative thoughts, feelings, and actions in otherwise normally positive people. If you discover you or someone you love is expressing more negativity than normal, it might be related to their energy level.
Overwhelm causes negativity- When the world is on your shoulders it makes sense to be sad about it. Being negative during overwhelming times is an appropriate experience. Sadly, this negativity can come out in a wide variety of ways which could cause some problems. Overwhelmed people may be distracted by their personal situation and come across as rude, mean, or…negative. If you recognize overwhelm in yourself or someone close to you, try to get a handle on the overwhelm. Reducing the stressors can make room for you to become more positive when the load gets lighter.
Feeling stuck can cause negativity- Feeling stuck can lead to hopelessness and helplessness. This can ultimately lead to anxiety or depression. These almost always lead to a predominantly negative mindset. It’s almost impossible to feel good and happy when you feel stuck in cement, or worse, quicksand. If you or someone you love is feeling stuck, it may be time for professional help. Being stuck oftentimes looks like simply running out of ideas. Working with someone who has a fresh perspective or ideas to improve your situation can go a long way towards restoring your positive mindset.
Being negative is normal. It’s part of the full scope of a human experience. Luckily being negative can be an indicator something’s going on. It can help you identify if you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or feeling stuck. In this way, negativity is a symptom of a bigger issue. It makes sense to focus on the issue to resolve the negativity rather than emphasizing the negativity as the problem. If you recognize you feel negative, take a look at your situation and see if you need some rest, relief, or help solving a problem.
