we should think critically, rationally, subjectively, or realistically. |
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I've been thinking about this a lot lately. The issue has been bothering me daily, about every time I'm by myself and start thinking. I've noticed that I tend to think negatively, I observe my surroundings and think about life with a sort of depressed mindset. |
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Last edited by Dianeva; 03-25-2011 at 11:02 AM.
we should think critically, rationally, subjectively, or realistically. |
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You make a good point. Of course we should think rationally. What I personally mean by negative is, for example, I'll think about death and be depressed about that, start thinking about tangents off of that. I recognize that I'm alive and that that's better than not having life in the first place, but my thoughts automatically run toward the death thoughts and not the life thoughts. I'm not irrationally denying the positive things, I just don't focus my attention on them. |
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A builder, a maker, is always looking for a better way. |
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Last edited by Philosopher8659; 03-25-2011 at 12:22 PM.
Generally positive thinking with occasional cynical tendencies seems to work out for me. |
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Our thoughts are defaulted to negative. Our thoughts will automatically go to negative, because it's much easier. It takes work to create a positive attitude, but it makes all the difference. |
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Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow, and when I woke up the pillow was gone.
- Tommy Cooper
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adopted and raised by Ade
Plus, what you are noticing is attitude. |
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Last edited by theMagician; 03-25-2011 at 02:47 PM.
Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow, and when I woke up the pillow was gone.
- Tommy Cooper
I'm a very positive person. I complain a lot about little aches, pains and curiosities but that doesn't change who I am. |
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There is that old saying that I think fits well. "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." You need to have an overall positive view of things, and if you hope for things to turn out well you can keep going no matter what happens. Though it pays be practical and prepare for the bad times, because there will always be bad things and things that don't work out as planned. You can view things critically while still hoping for the best. |
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Better question to ask: what defines "negativity"? What makes your thoughts "negative"? Perhaps you're using a definition imposed upon you without even realizing it. Just a thought... |
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No changes, and my mindset has been like this for years. |
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Last edited by Dianeva; 03-26-2011 at 03:46 AM.
I think it is important to explore all aspects of whatever it is you are exploring - both positive and negative aspects. Assuming you've exhausted most viewpoints, if whatever it is happens to be more negative than positive then you can't really help but feel negative about it. I'm not sure that we even have that much control over how you feel about something, it might be just wired into you to be interpreted in that way. I feel generally negative about our society as a whole for the reason that it's not a good one as a whole. I find it hard to interpret it in any other way. Like you, if I try to view it as positive I feel fake inside. |
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Last edited by SpecialInterests; 03-26-2011 at 07:13 PM.
not "negatively" but realistically |
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From my rotting body,
flowers shall grow
and I am in them
and that is eternity.
-Edvard Munch
The human brain is made to think rather negatively. Otherwise we wouldn't have advanced this far. |
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Yes! |
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Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow, and when I woke up the pillow was gone.
- Tommy Cooper
There's really no point to have a negative mindset. You shouldn't be negative at all. You don't have to be happy, but have a mindset other than being negative. Whatever mindset you choose, you become emotionally. So why would you want to become a negative person? There are better mindsets to have. Also, no matter what mindset you have, reality's still going to be the same reality; it's just that your perspective warps reality, and your perspective is all that matters, because your perspective is what life is through your own eyes. So might as well have a perspective that's in line with your interests. Just my two cents. |
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A lot of people mistake cynicism for skepticism and negativity for realism. I know what you mean about a certain clarity that comes out of depression and isolation, when you come out of a dark place into momentary calm, and even if you're not seeing everything more clearly, you're seeing the world from a perspective that not everyone experiences all the time. That state is part of the addictive quality of negative ideation and dark introspection. |
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Last edited by Taosaur; 03-29-2011 at 02:08 PM.
If you have a sense of caring for others, you will manifest a kind of inner strength in spite of your own difficulties and problems. With this strength, your own problems will seem less significant and bothersome to you. By going beyond your own problems and taking care of others, you gain inner strength, self-confidence, courage, and a greater sense of calm.Dalai Lama
I think a distinction should be made between happiness and satisfaction. If one is satisfied with their situation, they will not try to find better possible scenarios or situations. One gets stuck in a rut. |
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Originally Posted by Taosaur
Very well put. |
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I guess I fail to see where negative thoughts and emotions lead to happiness. The secret to success... And failure, is that our lives become what we think about. |
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Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow, and when I woke up the pillow was gone.
- Tommy Cooper
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Last edited by Photolysis; 03-31-2011 at 11:49 AM.
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