Here's a surprising reality about negativity: it's not our original programming or state of mind. It isn’t, even though it might feel like it is, at times….
When we are born, we are not born being negative. If you look at children, one thing you will notice nearly always is that they are inherently positive. We come into this world as a ball of light, which is why children are generally great sources of positivity and light.
Children are walking, talking 100-watt lightbulbs. They brighten everything and everyone around them.
But then as we grow older, we pick up things that start to dampen and dim that inner light. We pick up thoughts, beliefs and ideas from the people and world around us that makes us question the default positive state in us.
We start to veer from the path of optimism and positivity through our formative years, and some of us do it more than others based on the quality of our childhood, the circumstances we face, and so on.
Unless there's some sort of brain impairment, we are naturally born positive, and then pick up unhelpful and negative beliefs and ideas.
Why do we do this?
We do this because the world isn't always fair or certain, and we start prioritizing our fears as a defense mechanism. This is why children who had bad childhoods are more negative than children who had good childhoods.
We embrace negativity to keep ourselves safe. The thing is, embracing pessimism, negativity and fear doesn't really keep us safe even though it seems like it does. No, what that sort of programming does do us make us even more fearful, pessimistic, and negative.
The state of learned helplessness is a prime example of this. You might think that being pessimistic and negative helps you stay safer, but what it actually does is close you off to possibilities. That frame of mind can even blind you to the good things in life, and even to hope and opportunities.
Sticking with the negative programming that many of us pick up during our formative years is one of the biggest reasons why most people stay stuck in life. In that frame of mind is becomes almost impossible to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
If you have already had this realization, then you are on the right path, and good things will keep happening to you. However, if you can relate to this frame of mind and you find yourself stuck in this negative frame of mind, then you know that it's time to make a change.
Negativity might give you the illusion of safety, but all it really does it keep you stuck.
Life might not always be easy, but you absolutely can make it easier by overriding the negative frame of mind that has become your default over time. Shake that off, and embrace your innate possibilities, light, and positivity. Because the reality is that you are more capable than you realize (no matter what you have been told).
And more importantly, because you deserve happiness.
Choose to be more optimistic,
Salek