NEGATIVE
I was asked to comment on some NEGATIVE words.
Sometimes we just need to turn that frown upside down. That phrase always makes me think of a commercial from childhood – I don’t remember if it was Toys “R” Us or Kiddie City but it was the catchphrase for a toy store. I still smile when I hear it. I’m not sure why. Is it funny because it rhymes? Bring joy because it triggers childhood memories? Does it capture one of the first recognitions of abstract thought, thinking about what it means?
What if it were that simple? Just turn that frown upside down and feel better. Just think about the POSITIVE aspects of things instead of the NEGATIVE aspects.
Much of the time it is that simple. Just turn that frown upside down and feel better. Just think about the POSITIVE aspects of things instead of the NEGATIVE aspects.
Somebody cut you off in traffic and you nearly had an accident. Your adrenaline is now flowing and you can think all kinds of NEGATIVE thoughts. (“Have another beer, why don’t you?” might be a mild insult I’ll say into the air.) You may not want to disclose the NEGATIVE thoughts you respond with. But as soon as you consider you didn’t have an accident and how much time and aggravation you were just spared, what is there to be NEGATIVE about? You can stew about it the rest of your trip or you can feel good that you navigated traffic one more time without incident and move on to think about other things. Only you can decide how long you stay NEGATIVE and when you turn that frown upside down.
Of course there are some losses and some threats that are serious enough that we can be NEGATIVE and not just snap out of it quickly. It can take us longer to find the POSITIVE. You wouldn’t suggest “Look at the bright side” as the instant response to a funeral for someone with a deep personal connection. And there are times when the NEGATIVE feeling is there for our protection. Pain is a signal of danger and you don't want to ignore it if its root cause is a signal of something worse to come. So it is not always as easy as "Just be happy". Choosing to be POSITIVE may not only take longer it may take cognitive or emotional effort and finding ways to think differently – it may even take being ready.
But with 35,000 decisions a day we have a very large set of opportunities to be NEGATIVE or POSITIVE, and most of our attitude comes from the cumulative effect of the seemingly inconsequential ones. So for most of the time when you can choose, why be NEGATIVE?
“ ‘Cause when you worry, your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now”
