When I deal with my negativity, it seem to be my identification with it that determines how fast it leaves.
Of course the emotion is me, but it isn’t me in my entirety. So I let it be felt, because otherwise, I would be denying a part of myself. At the same time, I try not to prolong it by rationalizing why it should or shouldn’t be there. In my experience, that just gives it a reason to persist–I get tied up in countering the rationalization, countering the counter, and so on and so forth.
It’s already there, so I let it be. And in turn, I find it does the same (maybe it’s following my lead because it’s literally me, though not in my entirety). Then, with that expanded allowance, the rest of me is allowed to rebalance the whole.
Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha 
I tend to use negativity as fuel lately. I figure out what’s bothering me subconsciously and that discovery motivates self-correction.
Trickier when the root really is other people sticking sticks between your spokes, but I have a watch phrase for that sort of thing. ‘Forgive them, Heavenly Father, for they know not what they do’.
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I find that my life is much easier on the days that I don’t overthink EVERYthing I encounter.
When I leave it on autopilot and don’t practice discipline myself to focus, my mind reacts, reflects, and resents in rapid-fire.
This month, my discipline focus has been on my reactions to people, places, and things. I’ve found that the days I can pause before reacting are a great benefit to my mental and social health.
Thanks for sharing.
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totally agree with this. just keep the negativity company and make sure – like any house guest – it has boundaries and a set time where it needs to leave your home! Mike
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thank you for sharing, like it!
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When negativity takes hold, I write to get it out there and if that doesn’t help, I replace it with something positive. It can be something small like a walk in nature or thinking of something that I am grateful for. It usually helps.
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This is really insightful about handling negative emotions. Your approach of acknowledging negativity without getting trapped in endless rationalization is spot-on.
I love the idea that the emotion “follows your lead” since it’s part of you but not your whole self. That balance between acceptance and perspective is key.
The comment about treating negativity like a houseguest with boundaries is brilliant too. Your method feels more sustainable than constantly fighting or feeding those emotions.
Does this approach work consistently for you, or are some types of negativity trickier to handle this way?
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This approach works consistently, but for the few times it doesn’t, I go into acceptance, as in, “I guess this is how it’s going to be. Forever.” Objectively, nothing lasts forever, so I know it’s not true. However, if that’s where the relief is, I’ll go there. I try not to if I can help it, but sometimes negativity is too sticky for me to deal with through allowance.
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