Thinking Negatively

With apologies to Sen. Al Franken, maybe you're not good enough or smart enough, and maybe people don't like you. In fact, maybe dwelling on your failures isn’t so bad after all.

A new psychological study shows that accepting negative feelings rather than trying to reject them is better for your self-esteem. Researchers found that thinking positively can sometimes just accentuate one’s unhappiness.

As far as the future goes, though, it seems it's better to think the glass will be half-full tomorrow. Another study found that having worst-case scenarios in mind makes them more likely to happen. Researchers found that the unwanted impulses we all feel have a greater chance of becoming reality if we keep thinking about them. So the next time you want to throw a plate of food at your in-laws...banish the thought.

Time Magazine: Yes, I Suck: Self-Help Through Negative Thinking

The New York Times: Why The Imp In Your Brain Gets Out

(Photo by dpup via Flickr/Creative Commons)