Am I A Negative Person/Thinker?

Is your own perspective the only perspective that you have?

Do you have a hard time following through on projects?

Do you think you’re too old for everything?

Do you always see the negative side of everything, also of positive things (e.g., you received a promotion at work, but instead of celebrating, you will start thinking about how overwhelming the extra work will be)?

Do you prefer not to try than to fail?

Do you complain often?

Do you tend to get jealous easily?

Are you firmly stuck in your routine (which makes you rigid, inflexible)?

Do you exaggerate your mistakes?

Do you always find yourself arguing with someone?

Do you procrastinate?

Do you view successes as good luck?

Based on your answers you don’t seem to be a negative person or a negative thinker. Of course, we al have our bad days now and then; sometimes we wake up in a depressed mood, and we all have days when nothing seems to go right. There is nothing wrong with the ‘off’ days we experience, however, if this type of negative behavior repeatedly occurs for weeks or months, the sufferer is likely to be a negative thinker. The problem is that negative people often don’t recognize these behaviors in themselves. Luckily, negative thinkers can learn to challenge their thought patterns with a little (professional) help.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs of a negative person. Regardless of the cause of negative thinking, you can learn to challenge your negative thoughts. You will first need to identify the negative thoughts, and then you offer your brain other perspectives to shut the negative ones down. You can do this by literally talking to your thoughts: “I identify a negative thought; it’s something I’m telling myself but it’s not the truth”. If you can find a quiet place, you can meditate on these words. Keep your eyes closed and let the words sink in. It may sound silly but remember that it requires some work to change the automatic thoughts that you have spent a long time going over.

Unfortunately, you are displaying various signs typically seen among individuals who have a negative outlook on life. Once you are stuck in a negative cycle, it can be very challenging to change your thought patterns. That’s why some sufferers consider seeking professional help at some point. If you feel like your daily life is impaired because you constantly have negative thoughts in your head, it may be time to talk to a mental health professional. Treatment may consist of medication, or cognitive behavioral therapy to improve your quality of life.