Negativity & Grumbling

Negativity in terms of mindset is the tendency to view things from a problematic, downside or hopeless position. Grumbling is the act of verbalizing the negativity and can manifest as complaining. Research indicates brains have a tendency to view the world in mostly positive or mostly negative terms. Anxiety, environmental influences and adult models can play a role in the development of a person's world view. When negativity and grumbling are tempered by the ability to problem-solve and shift focus, the impairment is lower. But without these skills, negativity and grumbling often result in a soured mood, feelings of disempowerment and dependency.

How can Therapy be helpful?

psychoeducation on the brain including the tendency to either think positively or negatively by nature
cognitive strategies to help flip the brain's natural tendency and develop the ability to think with more positivity
expanding awareness of the labels we place on life events from positive and negative to positive, negative and neutral
identifying and acting on your values especially when they are incongruent with negativity and grumbling
recognition of the influence of anxiety on the maintenance of a negative world view
disconnecting thinking and acting such that it becomes more possible to notice a thought but act in a different way (i.e., thinking the weather is gloomy and awful but slipping on your rain boots and going for a walk anyway)

Tips for Reducing Negativity & Grumbling

listen and validate true concerns as well as feelings
support people can ask what's needed: a listener or a problem-solver
teach, model and prompt problem-solving
exposure to stories that show characters being okay in the presence of life's frustrations
encouragement to find any upsides to the frustrating situation without using these as a replacement for the downsides; they can coexist
teach children how to talk to themselves with helpful self-talk when working through problems