A university is a gathering place of all people, and you find a cross-section of people there. Going back to university has brought me to talk to many different people of all types.
One thing I noticed is that there is a large number of people who have negative mindsets. They can’t do anything without seeing the dark gray cloud standing above them. The get an ‘A’ on a paper, and they make comments like, “It only an ‘A-‘ and is one step from being a ‘D.'”
I’ve listened to them tell me that there is nothing they can do is right. Or how everything they do will fall apart.
In all fairness, some of the people I talk to, have had a string of what could be called “unfortunate incidents.” Their car breaks down, followed by their backpack opening up running to class spilling their laptop onto the ground.
That part, I can understand. Things happen, and not all of it favourable to you.
However, how much of it is things happening and how much of it has to do with your negative mindset.
A human mind is a powerful tool. It works 24 hours a day, seven days a week and only shuts off right before you talk to someone you are interested in.
As a person goes through life, their mind processes the information they receive through their senses. The mind interprets the world, creating a unique point of view. When something happens like the car breaking down, as per the example above, their mind interprets the event as a bad thing.
In some ways, it is terrible. Their car will be an expensive fix, and they will need a tow. All of it will need to be addressed. However, sitting on the side of the highway, is there time to deal with that problem?
A negative mindset clouds one’s judgement; it sends them into a spiral that forces them into self-destructive, which only ends up one way — their own destruction. A positive mindset, however, leaves the mind clear. A person that can see what is happening with that clear mind will be able to find the solution quicker than someone without.
Back to the problem of being stuck on the highway with the broken down car.
They have to get to class and are stuck. A negative person fixates on that issue while losing the big picture. They dwell on the negative parts crying, “Woe is me. My life sucks. I’m a failure.”
A positive person will look at the positive aspects of the situation, or at least will have a clear enough mind to think the problem through. It might be just a lecture class; maybe they can get the notes from someone. Perhaps they have left early, and they have time to get to class by another way; a taxi or a friend.
The brain is a muscle. A muscle in the sense that it is only when someone uses it does it stretch and grow. If a person lets it sit unused, then the brain will slow down and atrophy. When a person thinks positively, they open up neural pathways following the positive side of the brain. It becomes easier to think positively by making it a habit.
When a person thinks negatively, they do the same for that side of the brain, which is why when I talk to a negative minded person, they say that they can’t help it.
Having a negative mind and forcing yourself to think positive is like trying not to overeat. It is easier said than done, but the only way to make a dent in the habit is to try. This is from someone who had spent years of his life looking at the negative parts of things.
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