Eeyore is the famed depressed donkey that only sees the gloomy side of life in the Hundred Acre Wood. Despite his friends Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh looking at the bright side, he simply can’t seem to stop being negative.
No matter what is going right, Eeyore only sees what’s going wrong. In the fictional story of Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore’s friends persevere and never seem to give up on Eeyore despite his chronic negativity. That may not be the case for you and me. That’s because most people won’t tolerate chronic negativity for very long.
Eeyore syndrome gets its name from the pessimistic donkey and it applies to people who wear their negativity on their sleeve. Having Eeyore syndrome can cause a lot of disruption and lead to the breakdown of otherwise healthy relationships.
People Want to Help Friends Going Through Rough Times
Most people want to support and lend their help to people going through a rough patch. No one expects someone going through a hard time to have it all together. There are seasons of life when things are negative. Life has a way of handing out lemons. The problem comes when no one is making any lemonade from those lemons.
It may not take long for a support system to feel burdened by negativity when there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. While people want to be helpful, it can wear them out when their help doesn’t seem to make a difference.
At Some Point, People Will Start to Disconnect
When negativity goes on for too long, it can cause people to withdraw their support. People love to solve problems. Everyone wants to be a hero and be the positive and supportive friend who saves the day. When their help doesn’t seem to make a difference, it can send the message that they don’t have what it takes for positive change. This can create an awkwardness in the relationship and may cause people to withdraw.
Look for the Rainbow Among the Clouds
You can do your part to help prevent Eeyore syndrome from robbing you of your friendships. Finding any reason to be positive can help. Even Eeyore reluctantly gives in to the optimism of Tigger’s boundless energy. Clinging to any glimmer of hope can help. There is always something to be thankful for and always something to smile about, even in the darkest days. Putting the focus on what is right, despite what’s wrong can help end chronic negativity.
