Think Negatively and Be Happy
Thinking Negatively is something we do every day, but there is a big difference between random negative thoughts, and Negative Visualization… it’s worth learning the difference.
Unfortunately the scourge of modern day society is the unconscious habit of thinking negatively. Immediately thinking the worst of others, seeing the bad in every situation, and thinking we are hopeless.
This is bad negative thinking, and you must identify this in your life and stop being judgemental about others and yourself.
There is however a technique that is far from new, as it was practiced by the Stoics over 2,000 years ago and is called Negative Visualisation. What this entails is thinking of what could go wrong, and seeing how you would handle that situation if it did happen. Seeing that failure is not the end of the world. Being comfortable that you can handle the worst, you are able to go forth and try your best with far less anxiety.
Of course I hear you say, “What about death?” Well this is a primary practice of Stoicism and Buddhism. In meditating on your death, understanding that life is fleeting and that it all must come to an end, has a way of motivating you to worry less about the day to day troubles in your life. It shows you that Fear of Failure is a pointless exercise, as the end goal is ultimately death.
So what matters is how you live your life day to day. Be Happy or Sad, it’s up to you…but it all ends the same way, so why not stop worrying.
