The negativity trident

There is a prevailing feeling that things are just getting worse and worse, but then humans have always tended to feel that, even when things are getting much better. So why do we tend to think the sky is falling, and what can you do about it?

- TERRY ROBSON

In a topsy turvy world, it's easy to feel negative about things and see things as getting worse and worse. The problem is that feeling negative itself has some unfortunate effects. Psychotherapist and counsellor for Talking Matters, Marie Rowland, observes, "A negative psychological setting can lead to a chronic sense of foreboding and lack of confidence. The chronic pessimist's negativity invariably becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as they forgo opportunities and lose connections, alienating those who would otherwise be supporters."

This is echoed by Dr. Jodie Lowinger, a clinical psychologist and author of the bestselling book The Mind Strength Method, who says, "If you are continuing to get caught up in the content of your worry stories, and chase it with more thoughts about things that might possibly go wrong, then you reinforce negative neural pathways causing your amygdala to become further sensitized over time and your anxiety gets worse."

Rowland adds, "A prolonged negative mindset can lead to withdrawal or even unprovoked bouts of anger. A negative mindset is shown in the way someone holds themselves, exhibiting a more diminished sense of self."

At best negativity is unproductive and at worst is decidedly harmful, but unfortunately there is plenty of evidence to show that we still embrace it.

Pessimistic people