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The Art of Negativity

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Re: The Art of Negativity

#11

Post by jaygray0919 »

beigeoak wrote: post #5
FriedrichN wrote: post #3

I find the dichotomy of pessimism/optimism and positive/negative not very useful in daily life, I prefer to think of defeatism and naivety. To me realism or (practical) optimism lies between those two. You can't go through life either distrusting everyone and everything, nor can you do the opposite and live a good life. People don't like negativity because it ruins their mood, but you sometimes have to be critical. P…

I've found that it's possible to very cleanly separate pessimism and optimism while still experiencing both. When I'm with my family or ideating on a new project, optimism is a much better mindset as it allows the mind to wander, create and relax. When I am in the depths of a project where I have a lot of things that I need to fail at to understand, a negative mindset is more useful. Maintaining a positive mindset in…

A variation: (my) self-awareness is defined more by (my) failures than by successes (with the exception of having children). Failure is painful and, in general, rational people seek to avoid pain. But fear/pain - and the absolute certainty that we will experience both - shapes our attitude and behavior. Is it pessimism to expect fear/pain? Is it optimism to seek sex/wealth (greed)? Methinks both are the human condition, and both make life worth living.

Re: The Art of Negativity

#12

Post by iovrthoughtthis »

FriedrichN wrote: post #3

I find the dichotomy of pessimism/optimism and positive/negative not very useful in daily life, I prefer to think of defeatism and naivety. To me realism or (practical) optimism lies between those two. You can't go through life either distrusting everyone and everything, nor can you do the opposite and live a good life. People don't like negativity because it ruins their mood, but you sometimes have to be critical. P…

> “to do anything you need a little hubris”

This is a great little line, thanks.

On the subject matter, all of the thinking around this stuff is very all-or-nothing. I know it’s popular to say that you need to be balanced in your considerations too but I find the idea of balance to suggest a stillness and inaction, set and forget.

I think you need to hold the different conflicting ideas in your head, at the same time and push them into conflict with each other to find a pragmatic mix of them.

Re: The Art of Negativity

#13

Post by ungamed »

orwin wrote: post #6
FriedrichN wrote: post #3

I find the dichotomy of pessimism/optimism and positive/negative not very useful in daily life, I prefer to think of defeatism and naivety. To me realism or (practical) optimism lies between those two. You can't go through life either distrusting everyone and everything, nor can you do the opposite and live a good life. People don't like negativity because it ruins their mood, but you sometimes have to be critical. P…

It really depends on how the negativity is expressed, and about what. Being negative about something that you can change is defeatism. being negative about something that will happen and can do nothing about is at best unhelpful for anyone. Being negative about how you reacted to something, how you did something, or how something was done (without pointing fingers) is extremely helpful for me, it push me to improve o…

I hate that you've state this so well.

I disagree strongly with the first paragraph and agree vehemently with the second.

Re: The Art of Negativity

#14

Post by maitredusoi »

Ok for "toxic positivity", but why not speak also about "toxic negativity", if people turned to "excessive" positivity, that is telling us that negativity can be armfull as well. Like everyting, we always need balance and the "Art of Negativity" is the same as the 3art of Positivity": using the right posture at the right moment. If you already interest in Yin/Yang you already know that ;)

Re: The Art of Negativity

#15

Post by sn41 »

FriedrichN wrote: post #3

I find the dichotomy of pessimism/optimism and positive/negative not very useful in daily life, I prefer to think of defeatism and naivety. To me realism or (practical) optimism lies between those two. You can't go through life either distrusting everyone and everything, nor can you do the opposite and live a good life. People don't like negativity because it ruins their mood, but you sometimes have to be critical. P…

"Trust in God, but keep your powder dry" - Oliver Cromwell (attributed) [1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_in_God_and_keep_your_pow...

Re: The Art of Negativity

#16

Post by m463 »

FriedrichN wrote: post #3

I find the dichotomy of pessimism/optimism and positive/negative not very useful in daily life, I prefer to think of defeatism and naivety. To me realism or (practical) optimism lies between those two. You can't go through life either distrusting everyone and everything, nor can you do the opposite and live a good life. People don't like negativity because it ruins their mood, but you sometimes have to be critical. P…

I think "conscious" is a good word.

Re: The Art of Negativity

#18

Post by paulpauper »

I have found that the people who keep pushing optimism are those who are already successful. It is not that being optimistic leads to success but that successful people are more inclined to feel optimistic.

Re: The Art of Negativity

#19

Post by kabouseng »

paulpauper wrote: post #18

I have found that the people who keep pushing optimism are those who are already successful. It is not that being optimistic leads to success but that successful people are more inclined to feel optimistic.

"It is not that being optimistic leads to success..."

How do you know the casual relationship?

Re: The Art of Negativity

#20

Post by ldbooth »

Optimism is socially useful. guarded pessimism is unavoidable from evolution. Humans psychologically want reinforcement of their own security i.e. group positivity. Evolution in groups means our unconscious does this without awareness. Negativity undermines the feeling of group security.
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