Embrace negative thinking - like a surgeon
Evidence clearly shows that spending time and energy thinking about how well things could go, actually reduces most people's chances to achieve them, and creates a mindset of anxiety and failure.
You have to embrace the negativity, the cynicism, the criticism of others so you can control how that fire burns. Fire can destroy but it can also forge new creations. The more you can withstand, and the sooner you take action, the greater your chances of getting back in the race. – Tim S. Grover, Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness
In popular culture, a lot of energy and time has been dedicated around the topic of “positive thinking”. Things perceived as “positive” make people feel good, but the unfortunate aftermath of this is the disregard of “negative thinking”.
It’s a problem of the lack of perspective. Things are neither “good” or “bad”. They simply are. Is a death of your manager a good thing? Or a bad thing? For whom? Does it depend on the manager? Is this an opportunity for promotion? What if he was abusive to his partner?
What about a death of a child? Is this “bad” or “good”? It might be the greatest tragedy for the parents… What if the child suffered from severe pain or from an incurable condition? What if he or she saved a life while sacrificing theirs? What if they didn’t, but transplants of the child’s organs can save 5 other lives?
Here’s a perspective I’d like you to consider: entertaining a “negative” view (or negative visualisation) - a powerful instrument that allows you to focus on what matters, take action, mitigate risks and regain control of your life.
In fact, it is absolutely necessary to embrace negativity.
Today you will learn why.
You are primed to act to avoid negative outcomes
Your ancestors lived in times of extreme scarcity and under immediate threat to own life or the life of their dearest. Droughts, famines, dangerous animals, wars, deadly infectious diseases, life threatening injuries, low resources, were normal parts of life.
There were many reasons that works trigger your ancestors’ “fight or fight” responses. Adrenaline makes your hearing more acute, and your vision sharper. Your reaction time becomes faster, your strength increases. Breathing and heart rate goes up to prepare your body for higher demands.
As a species, we are primed to respond to negative reinforcement. Whether you think about it or not, you have been motivated by negative stimuli to act in various times in your life.
Here’s some examples:
When you were a kid, your parents threatened to take away your favourite toy if you didn’t behave.
In college, you studied extra hard when you were one major test from failing the course.
You could be motivated to waking up earlier if your boss tells that if you’re late to work one more time you’ll be fired.
Your Internet access might be cut off if you miss next month’s payment.
All of these are examples of negative stimuli to get you to act. And action-biased life is a very strong predictor of personal and professional success.
