It’s natural for people to have negative thoughts, but having a negative mindset tells a different story. We’re All Crazy Get Used to it by Jerold Skolnik guides people toward challenging the mind, helping them improve their well-being.
“Is the glass half-empty or half-full?”
People receive this common question, and their answers supposedly measure their outlooks in life. While the question may seem rhetoric, it requires a conscious perception decision between absence and abundance. If people see the glass as half-empty, this indicates they focus on what’s lacking compared to appreciating what’s available, demonstrating a sense of pessimism. On the other hand, when people see the glass half-full, it’s indicative of recognition of the good and abundance rather than highlighting the absence, demonstrating optimism.
But what good does it bring to differentiate these outlooks?
Challenging the mind about how it processes information and input from the world can influence an individual’s well-being. Constantly fostering a negative outlook attracts more negativity, impacting other aspects of life beyond health, including family and career. Think of pessimism as a row of dominos. When one occurs, the others follow suit until it feels as though everything is spiraling out of control. Fortunately, the brain is trainable. Someone who has cultivated a negative mindset doesn’t have to live with the burden of cynicism. They can change how they think through determination and constant practice.
Positive Thinking Isn’t the Absence of Negativity
When people are encouraged to have a more positive mindset, this doesn’t mean they should entirely avoid entertaining negative thoughts. After all, these have their purpose: to alert the body when something feels or is terrible. And challenging the mind to only look at everything positively also cultivates toxic positivism. Instead of ending negative thoughts, positive thinking entails that people constructively approach these unpleasant thoughts. This way, the individual stays positive, avoiding ruminating over what could be unnecessary things for periods.
Ruminating may seem helpful since it feels as though the mind is comforted and relieved. But unless there are solid and actionable steps toward improvement, ruminating is detrimental to one’s health.
We’re All Crazy Get Used to It by Jerold Skolnik highlights how important it is to nurture a proper mindset throughout life. Such a lifestyle can help people stay motivated despite countless conflicts, leveraging them toward success. This book is a guideline for assisting people in staying afloat in life instead of drowning in worries. Turning negatives into positives requires time and determination. It can’t be done on a whim, which can be demotivating, but by doing these steps, a more positive outlook can be achieved little by little.
Begin With A Neutral Mindset
When one realizes they’ve constantly been in a negative headspace and decides to change, one may instantly feel the need to be positive. However, it’s easier said than done. Realizing this taxing and challenging nature can be frustrating because people want it to be instant, to feel the relief immediately. But it’s crucial to be patient and recognize a long gap between negative and positive. This journey doesn’t only entail changing can’ts to cans.
Instead of aiming for positive thinking, one must focus on achieving a more neutral mindset. This doesn’t automatically point to an abundance of positivity but the acceptance that things happen. And when they do, one doesn’t have to categorize them into positive or negative. Instead, they accept them for what they are and move on. This allows for better headspace for positive thoughts.
Build Positive Foundations
To create a solid positive mindset, one must work on having concrete positive foundations. This entails working on strengthening one’s affirmations and emotions. Knowing what one can do and accomplish is the baseline for positivity. When one has a firm belief of one’s value, no matter what negativity comes their way, their self-identity won’t be distressed, not allowing any space for negativity.
However, building positive foundations also entails the proper processing of negative thoughts. In doing so, the individual isn’t discrediting their negative thoughts but instead processing them correctly. A healthy way to do this is by allotting time daily to welcome negative thoughts and only entertaining them during that duration. Beyond that, people should distract themselves or actively practice turning these into positive thoughts.
Give Time
Again, this process will not happen fast, nor will it be a linear development. People might practice a more positive mindset but fall back to negative patterns the next. While this will be frustrating and demotivating, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re failing. Patience, time, and determination will influence the mind’s transformation. Challenging the mind to be more positive requires consistency and practice.
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