Comments on: Negative Thinking http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/ Everything About Money You Were Too Polite To Ask Fri, 24 May 2013 06:41:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lauren http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/#comment-28046 Lauren Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:29:35 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20050#comment-28046 I am excellent at negative thinking. I am excellent at negative thinking.

]]> By: Stina http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/#comment-28035 Stina Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:36:33 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20050#comment-28035 @josefinastrummer Absolutely. When I was laid off, my prior boss thought I was such a good employee she personally shopped my name around to other people and pretty much got me my new position. So part ability/part luck via having a very nice boss. I just think of people on "Restaurant Impossible" who buy restaurants with no experience and expect gumption to somehow make up for a lack of basic knowledge. Like really? You thought that was a good idea? Optimism can only get you so far. @josefinastrummer Absolutely. When I was laid off, my prior boss thought I was such a good employee she personally shopped my name around to other people and pretty much got me my new position. So part ability/part luck via having a very nice boss.

I just think of people on “Restaurant Impossible” who buy restaurants with no experience and expect gumption to somehow make up for a lack of basic knowledge. Like really? You thought that was a good idea? Optimism can only get you so far.

]]> By: notpollyanna http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/#comment-28021 notpollyanna Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:56:15 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20050#comment-28021 My thinking tends to look negative, but it is realistic based on my life experience. I do think that experience has a lot to do with it. If things tend to work out well for you, set backs tend to be short-lived, you achieve the goals you work toward, thinking positively is going to be more natural and more realistic. If you have been abused by your parents, fought fruitlessly against poverty, or had a life of unending illness, negative thinking will be more natural and realistic. Learning from experience means that realism will differ based on your experience. If I started assuming that most things I do will turn out well, even when they depend largely on the decisions of other people, it would be delusionally optimistic given my life experience, but it might be realistic for others. My thinking tends to look negative, but it is realistic based on my life experience. I do think that experience has a lot to do with it. If things tend to work out well for you, set backs tend to be short-lived, you achieve the goals you work toward, thinking positively is going to be more natural and more realistic. If you have been abused by your parents, fought fruitlessly against poverty, or had a life of unending illness, negative thinking will be more natural and realistic. Learning from experience means that realism will differ based on your experience. If I started assuming that most things I do will turn out well, even when they depend largely on the decisions of other people, it would be delusionally optimistic given my life experience, but it might be realistic for others.

]]> By: josefinastrummer http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/#comment-28011 josefinastrummer Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:07:34 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20050#comment-28011 @Stina Yes! I enjoy being a realist as well. Sometimes I say that I am very lucky, but most of the time it's because I made good choices. When things don't work out, I evaluate and move on instead of just believing that the world hates me. @Stina Yes! I enjoy being a realist as well. Sometimes I say that I am very lucky, but most of the time it’s because I made good choices. When things don’t work out, I evaluate and move on instead of just believing that the world hates me.

]]> By: Stina http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/#comment-27984 Stina Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:23:58 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20050#comment-27984 I don't think that I am an optimist or a pessimist but a realist. It's not "everything will work out or nothing will work out so why even try" but "It doesn't HAVE to work out, so what can I do to make it more likely that it will?" Life isn't stacked against you but it can be unfair at times. (see: alzheimer's, natural disasters, greater socio-economic forces etc.) So keep both possibilities in mind. I don’t think that I am an optimist or a pessimist but a realist.

It’s not “everything will work out or nothing will work out so why even try” but “It doesn’t HAVE to work out, so what can I do to make it more likely that it will?” Life isn’t stacked against you but it can be unfair at times. (see: alzheimer’s, natural disasters, greater socio-economic forces etc.) So keep both possibilities in mind.

]]> By: TARDIStime http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/#comment-27982 TARDIStime Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:55:14 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20050#comment-27982 The method of thinking you describe doesn't sound negative at all to me. If you're not getting all those jobs you're applying for and you ask yourself why, then work on a solution to the obstacle between you and all the jobs, that's positive thinking. Negative thinking is when you think you're not getting all the jobs you're applying for and you wonder why and then you decide to blame the world, rather than yourself, and you don't change your approach at all, and you keep getting knocked back for the jobs; therefore reinforcing that you were right along and you're just not meant to be employed because of the world being against you, *cue the spiral into self-pity*. The method of thinking you describe doesn’t sound negative at all to me.
If you’re not getting all those jobs you’re applying for and you ask yourself why, then work on a solution to the obstacle between you and all the jobs, that’s positive thinking.
Negative thinking is when you think you’re not getting all the jobs you’re applying for and you wonder why and then you decide to blame the world, rather than yourself, and you don’t change your approach at all, and you keep getting knocked back for the jobs; therefore reinforcing that you were right along and you’re just not meant to be employed because of the world being against you, *cue the spiral into self-pity*.

]]> By: WaityKatie http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/#comment-27892 WaityKatie Fri, 14 Dec 2012 20:19:27 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20050#comment-27892 Aaaaahhh I am reading this book right now! It is so good. I come from a family that insisted on denying any bad things and shoving all negative feelings under the rug or behind a fake "happy" smile, so this alternative way of looking at things is pure therapy for me. Screw positive thinking, how about facing reality and finding ways to deal with it? I just think suppressing negative thoughts is so destructive and does not lead to positive results. Aaaaahhh I am reading this book right now! It is so good. I come from a family that insisted on denying any bad things and shoving all negative feelings under the rug or behind a fake “happy” smile, so this alternative way of looking at things is pure therapy for me. Screw positive thinking, how about facing reality and finding ways to deal with it? I just think suppressing negative thoughts is so destructive and does not lead to positive results.

]]> By: BornSecular http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/negative-thinking/#comment-27872 BornSecular Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:19:36 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20050#comment-27872 I've decided the reason I don't get the jobs I want/apply/interview for is because the universe is telling me to start my own business! This may also be misguided positive thinking...time will tell. I’ve decided the reason I don’t get the jobs I want/apply/interview for is because the universe is telling me to start my own business! This may also be misguided positive thinking…time will tell.

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