Want Less Stress? Let Go of Chronic Negativity!

Changing our perspective on life can make the difference between chronic, stressful negativity and peace of mind.

We all experience occasional negative attitudes because of adverse circumstances and people.  If you tend to watch, read or listen to enough news, then you’ll find enough negativity to poison your outlook for a long time!

Not everything is wrong/dangerous/evil/destructive/”out to get me”/ (fill in the blank).  We tend to feel that it’s much easier to complain or look at the perceived negative side of circumstances and people than it is to make an effort to seek out the positive.  Having a chronic, pessimistic outlook on life is not realistic, and it’s certainly not healthy! 

It doesn’t mean that everything in life is “all flowers and sunshine,” which isn’t natural or healthy. 

However, having a healthy and balanced perspective about your life’s journey can give you a much less stressful and much more positive outlook on life.

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So, Where Do We Get These Negative Thoughts?

Negative thoughts seem to be caused by our own learned beliefs that develop over time.  In turn, these can negatively affect our sense of self-esteem, handling money, our mental and physical health, people and relationships, our understanding of security, and life in general.

Let’s look at some of the effects of chronic negativity and ways to handle negative situations and people in a positive way.

Emotional Effects of Negativity:

In general, negativity puts a stressor on our ability to handle life’s situations.  In my opinion, holding in negative thoughts tends to “divide the mind”, which can render us stuck in an emotional rut, and not able to make clear and constructive decisions.

An excellent article by the renowned Cleveland Clinic called “How to Turn Your Negative Thinking Around: Noticing what’s right in the world can have a big impact on your life” by Scott Bea, PsyD, answers questions about why so many people struggle with negative thinking and explain how to adopt a more positive outlook on life.  Dr. Bea notes that:

Does negativity dominate your thinking? If the thoughts in your head about people, situations — and even yourself — are on the harsh side, you’re doing yourself a disservice…Negative thinking makes you feel blue about the world, about yourself, about the future. It contributes to low self-worth. It makes you feel you’re not effective in the world.

Psychologists link negative thinking to depression, anxiety, chronic worry, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). But almost all human beings contend with it — even those born with a positive outlook on life. It’s because of the way our brains are constructed.

Another article by Healthline.com called “Negative Thinking Can Harm Your Brain and Increase Your Dementia Risk” by Elizabeth Pratt states:

• Researchers say repetitive negative thinking can increase your risk of developing dementia.
• They noted that in a recent study, participants who exhibited repetitive negative thinking had a more cognitive decline and problems with memory.
• They also had higher levels of tau protein and amyloid deposits, both of which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
• Experts say mindfulness and other techniques can help reduce negative thinking patterns.

Ways to Handle the Effects of Emotional Negativity:

Practice Positivity:

The previous Healthline.com article notes that,

Accentuating the positive, eliminating the negative, and latching on to the affirmative may not just put you in a better mood. It’s also good for your brain.

The Cleveland Clinic article notes that,

“Your thoughts affect the way you regard your life. Positive thinking fosters self-acceptance and self-efficacy.

Practice Mindfulness:

The Cleveland Clinic’s article also states that:

Rather than change the way you think, I recommend changing your relationship to your thoughts. We have about 50,000 spontaneous thoughts, images and ideas every day. Whether they’re positive or negative, they intrude into our awareness. Those that are negative are more likely to capture our awareness, or become “sticky.”  I recommend learning to watch your thoughts, rather than engaging with them. Practicing mindfulness can take you away from the thinking experience.

Physical Effects of Negativity:

An article in Health.com by Adam Hoffman called “Can Negative Thinking Make You Sick?”, states that,

By now, the mind-body connection is a familiar idea. Most people are aware, for example, that stress can produce physical symptoms like an upset stomach, or that depression often physically hurts. But a growing body of research suggests that negative emotions and thoughts may also have links to other serious health problems, like heart disease.

It goes on to discuss the connection between anger, fear, being cynical, and hostility with increased risk of stroke, heart attack, an increase in disabilities later in life, type-2 diabetes, and a compromised immune system that can lead to other illnesses.

Ways to Handle the Physical Effects of Negativity:

Johns Hopkins Medicine put out a brief yet powerful online article called “The Power of Positive Thinking”. Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H. and her colleagues note that:

Here’s heartwarming news: People with a family history of heart disease who also had a positive outlook were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event within five to 25 years than those with a more negative outlook.

The article discusses the connection between having hope and your heart’s health, actively looking on the bright side of life’s situations, smiling more, practicing reframing how you look at unpleasant situations and building resiliency.

I encourage you to read this article.

Social Effects of Negativity:

It can be so draining being around someone that constantly views situations and other people negatively!

They may start out making a general statement about something or someone, and then add in something – anything! – negative.  After a while, you question whether you want to be around them, let alone share your thoughts and life experiences with them.

Likewise, have you considered how your constant negativity and complaining may be affecting other people? 

Ways to Handle the Effects of Social Negativity: 

Be aware that we need to strike a balance between airing our complaints to others in a constructive way and learning to deal with our negative emotions by practicing self-reflection (where are these feelings coming from? Are these beliefs/feelings doing me any good?”).

Also, other people’s negativity is not about you!  We need to learn not to take everything personally.  Learning to respond to other’s negativity without being hostile in return starts in our minds.  It’s not easy, but the social and emotional rewards are worth it in the long run!  Other folks have bad days, just like us.  We need to give people the benefit of the doubt, which starts in our minds.  Like we learned socially negative thoughts and behaviors, we can make a conscious effort to unlearn them.

Spiritual Effects of Negativity:

Folks, people observe us, whether we know it or not.  As a Christian, I know that people expect me to “walk the talk,” and rightfully so!  My life should reflect my faith, and negativity certainly should not be a part of it.

Allowing negativity to rule your thoughts, and in turn, your actions is a weak testimony to people around you. This life naturally has its’ ups and downs, its’ tragedies and triumphs.  It’s called life.

Ways to Handle the Effects of Spiritual Negativity:

Your faith should be the anchor that holds you to a loving God who will get you through this life’s adversities.  And with faith comes hope.

Studying and meditating on the Bible will undoubtedly give you a positive sense of peace and assurance.  In turn, our lives should be a source of hope and encouragement to others, especially to those closest to us.

Financial Effects of Negativity:

Forbes magazine’s online presence (Forbes.com) put out a great article that seems to cut to the heart of how negative emotions can hurt us financially. The article is called “8 Ways a Negative Mindset Can Effect Your Finances.”

It notes eight “money sabotaging emotions” that can play havoc on your handling of money: anxiety, jealousy, regret, embarrassment, sadness, guilt, feeling overwhelmed, and overconfidence.

Ways to Handle the Effects of Financial Negativity:

Constant ways to counter the effects of all eight “money sabotaging emotions” in this article are positive thoughts and taking positive action.  Negativity can sometimes paralyze our ability to take action. 

This can be done by actively changing our way of thinking and actively taking steps towards a positive outcome.  I encourage you to read this article, especially if you have a helpless and/or negative feeling towards handling finances.

Conclusion:

Negative thoughts are a waste of our time, resources, and energy!

We need to learn to replace our negative thoughts with positive thoughts.  Let go of negativity for a much more balanced, abundant life!

Further Recommended Reading:

“Negative Thinking Patterns and Your Beliefs”.  VerywellMind.com. 10/11/2020.

“What is Optimism?”.  VerywellMind.com. 10/11/2020. 

“How Positive Thinking Impacts Your Stress Level”.  VerywellMind.com. 9/30/2020.

“Negative Thinking Can Harm Your Brain and Increase Your Dementia Risk”.  Healthline.com. 6/11/2020.

“The Power of Positive Thinking” by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

Also, read my related blog posts under, Emotionally Abundant Living

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