Having a positive view on life may be a very useful tool for overcoming obstacles in daily life. However, constant optimism may become poisonous. It may be exhausting to force oneself to constantly see the bright side, and optimism might cause us to disregard the deeper sensations and ideas that are occurring.
Founder of Your Path Coaching and life and career coach Helen Dillon concurs that excessive optimism isn’t always a good thing. She understands that, when applied appropriately, negative thinking can be an effective instrument for self-reflection and a catalyst for transformation.
According to Dillon, “always being positive implies that no critical analysis or stock-taking of one’s current circumstances is occurring.”
Discrimination against negativity
Acora Therapy’s therapist, coach, and counselor Gillian Fagan concurs with Dillon. Fagan also mentions that people have a negativity bias, which indicates that our natural tendency is to focus on the negative.
She says, “We are hardwired for negativity because our survival instincts are ingrained in us as humans. It’s more in our nature to be cautious, catastrophize, assume the worst, and adjust slowly. If surviving is the default state, then this entails worrying about hypothetical scenarios.
When things in life don’t go as planned, an excess of optimism might exacerbate emotions of personal failure, claims Fagan. These are the situations where negativity is necessary for our development.
Accepting the negative
For me, moving ahead involved seriously examining the unpleasant feelings surrounding a work-related issue. Telling myself to only see the bright side wasn’t working as I started to dread getting ready for work every morning.
Rather, I allowed myself the time and space to explore the bad feelings I was experiencing. I looked into the actual situation. Normally I would have forced a grin, but I allowed myself to rant to pals. Rather than forcing myself to be thankful, I kept a grievance diary where I wrote down all of my anxieties.
What I found was a combination of anxiety brought on by the demands of the job and thoughts of inadequacy at work.
Moving forward
Embracing negativity was how I found happiness. I wouldn’t have made progress if I hadn’t let myself dwell on the drawbacks.
How then can you use the power of negative thought to your advantage in life?
Dillon says, “First and foremost, it’s admitting to ourselves that we’re unhappy or dissatisfied with the position in which we find ourselves. This can be very challenging, particularly if it involves acknowledging that a decision we made didn’t turn out as planned.”
We can figure out a solution after we allow ourselves the time and space for this introspection. According to Dillon, the ensuing bad feelings serve as catalysts for us to make changes.
In fact, we learn how to become better versions of ourselves when we use these negative times. When we meet obstacles that force us to go deep within ourselves in order to overcome them, it’s how we can better appreciate our strengths,” she adds.
In fact, there are advantages to negative thinking that may help us advance in life.
Range of emotions
We may live more fully when we accept all of our feelings. When bad feelings come, we don’t have to feel bad or responsible. They can be accepted as a natural part of existence. They also enable us to more completely appreciate life’s wonderful elements.
“We develop and learn from our mistakes, and that is why we succeed. We take chances and are vulnerable, which is why we connect and experience love. Living in denial implies avoiding suffering, which is itself a kind of agony, according to Fagan.
Genuineness
Nobody can consistently be in a completely optimistic state of mind. Because we are too multifaceted for that.
We put too much pressure on ourselves to be anything other than real human beings when we only radiate optimism. Any bad emotions are just suppressed and directed into denial, according to Fagan.
Feelings of loneliness and elevated stress might result from the need to always be cheerful. It might cause you to suppress your emotions and keep things to yourself when things get tough.
Inspiration for changes
Making a change begins with acknowledging that something in your life isn’t working and taking a close look at the issue. According to Fagan, “being uncomfortable with our real feelings is one of the biggest motivators for change.”
Nobody enjoys experiencing fear or sadness. People are typically motivated by their negative thoughts to seek therapy in order to gain a deeper knowledge of their experiences and the reasons behind their feelings. Without bad emotions, we may continue to live in subpar circumstances even when we know deep down that we’re
Error Signifies Growth
Fagan makes the argument that failure is a necessary part of success. Congratulations if you understand what it’s like to fail,” remarks Fagan. “You tried, even if you failed. You tried something and took a chance. Present me with a successful somebody who has never failed. I firmly think that we ought to celebrate failure since it gives us invaluable lessons about how to advance, mature, learn, and expand. You develop resilience and become more equipped to handle the ups and downs of life if you attempt and fail.
Increased happiness
There are serious health repercussions when you lie to yourself or to other people about how you’re feeling.
Studies in psychology and physiology demonstrate that internal tension is increased by denial and acting as though everything is fine. According to Fagan, suppressing negative emotions like sadness and rage can lead to health ailments, anxiety, and even despair. It has been demonstrated that emotional suppression lowers immune function and increases your chance of developing certain illnesses.
We can better control our stress reaction when we experience a spectrum of emotions, which in turn strengthens our immune system. In the long term, it is healthier for you to accept bad feelings rather than ignore them.
Enhanced relationships
Your relationships might also benefit from accepting your bad feelings. You’re creating more chances for closeness with your spouse when you’re open and honest about your experiences. The act of intimacy alone has several health advantages. Although it may be in your nature to be the “strong one,” genuine partnerships require vulnerability.
Conclusion to Surprising Benefits of Negative Thinking
In conclusion, people may be able to consistently feel less negative emotion if they accept their bad thoughts and feelings on a regular basis rather than passing judgement on them. These less strong emotional experiences seem to build up over time and eventually promote improved psychological health.
The key to it all is balance in the end. We may benefit from both negative and positive thinking in various ways. When things are bad, trying to have a good attitude might be the attitude that pulls us through. When we use negative thinking as a tool, we may thoroughly evaluate a situation and determine whether or not to make a change.
