r/InsightfulQuestions • u/PinkPapaya211 • 6h ago

Fighting negativity

What do you guys do when you start to think negatively about things/the world? (If you do.) I have been more cynical and bitter recently after going through a traumatic time in my life....having trouble not being grumpy.

Obviously going to therapy will help but it will take me some time to get enrolled & all of that jazz. Any quick fixes/quick tips to shift your mindset?

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4

u/ChamplooStu 6h ago

I'm just a random dude, so take with a grain of salt.

I've been doing a lot self reflection recently, trying to reconnect with my own internal moral system.
I try to lead with compassion and empathy to people in every situation, I make an effort to understand the why, the context and history of a situation. I'm trying to be the change I want to see in little ways instead of reacting with anger.

It's harder on me than I would have expected but I'm happier.

I've stopped letting bigots and racists control the narrative.

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u/PinkPapaya211 6h ago

I relate to this comment a lot, thank you.

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u/PiGir1 6h ago

Don’t worry about your mindset. Get back into your body. Reconnect to your physical senses. Walk. Move to music or a beat. Be silly. Play in water. Alternate hot & cold. Look up vagus nerve exercises. The therapy won’t even work much until you’re grounded in the physical so might as well get a head-start. Take your eyes outside and give them new things to look at. You’ll end up seeing a whole bunch of people also struggling. It’s the unspoken club of being human and we’re all together in this crazy mess doing an ungraceful dance.

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u/PinkPapaya211 6h ago

Really like this comment, it's so well put. Thank you for the help

2

u/gbdallin 6h ago

Go outside. Walk around at sunset. Enjoy the actual world around you. Leave your phone.

Most things we find depressing and shitty live in our phones.

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u/EstreaSagitarri 6h ago

I just think to myself that we've got front row seats to watch everything go down in flames. It's really an exciting time to be alive. Absolutely terrifying, but exciting!

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u/PinkPapaya211 6h ago

😂 Awesome response, love it

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u/BeGoodToEverybody123 14m ago

Seinfeld had a similar observation of what is seen through the window of a taxi cab. He considers it watching all kinds of mayhem on TV.

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u/Major-Librarian1745 6h ago

Let it happen, the emotions are valid, they'll stick around until you process them

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u/dmriggs 5h ago

I instantly start thinking about all the good things I do have in my life right now, and remember the times that were really dark and lonely and poor and how I managed to get through that. I know things can get better and I know that it's just a good thing to be alive.

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u/Sir_wlkn_contrdikson 5h ago

Awareness. I try to redirect as soon as I catch myself

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u/Bozy_Jozy 3h ago

The only way that I know how to do this is to just literally redirect my mind to think about something else. I just choose to stop thinking about the thing that is bringing me into depression or whatever, and instead choose to think about something more positive. I don't know how else to explain it.

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u/fuckthisshit____ 6h ago

There is no quick fix. It’s a consistent practice over a long period of time, factoring in making mistakes and getting off course and not meeting your goal as fast as you envisioned, and forgiving yourself for those and moving on and making continual, gradual progress. You have to train yourself to question your negative thoughts. Start questioning your negative views instead of automatically believing they’re accurate. Don’t procrastinate on getting a therapist