Avoid the depression mindset at any cost – XV

Last chat we surfed the Celebration Mindset. But one of the blockers for constructing a sustainable celebration mindset and seeing the life through it is the depression mindset. We try hard to entrench and to foster the celebration mindset at the personal and the organizational levels. While on the other hand the depression mindset finds its way easily to our life and workplace. It implants itself wherever you don’t put effort to uproot it.

We had spoken about the celebration mindset a few days ago. But since then I came to notice that its opposite is the depression mindset. While we need to put effort to implant the celebration mindset, the depression mindset finds its ways to implant itself within us whether at the personal or the organizational level. I don’t know why it seems as the default seeds within our environment. More or less like the Default Settings which refers to the status in which the software first starts when it is installed on a computer system. Or maybe it is the majority of the seeds that are carried out in the air.

Why depression mindset is easier to build?

There are definitely some parallels between a celebration mindset and a depression mindset. It can feel easier to slip into negativity than positivity at times, and here’s why:

The Brain’s Negativity Bias:

Our brains are wired for survival, and part of that is a negativity bias. We tend to pay more attention to negative stimuli than positive ones. In today’s world, it can lead us to dwell on negative experiences and emotions more than positive ones. It’s important to remember that the brain’s negativity bias is a natural tendency, not a flaw. However, by being aware of it, we can challenge negative thoughts and cultivate a more balanced perspective in all stages of life. The brain plays the negativity bias tone all across our life timeline. Let’s take some examples.

Early Childhood: A child might have a box full of toys, but fixate on the one they can’t reach or the one another child is playing with. This negativity bias makes the unavailable toy seem more desirable. A toddler takes a few wobbly steps and falls. In the absence of depressed parents, childs naturally they focus on the progress made. However, few toddlers might cry and dwell on the negative experience of falling.

Childhood: A child gets a good grade on most subjects but fixates on the one B they received, feeling discouraged despite the overall success. This can be a stimulation from one of the parents, a sibling or a classmate. A child gets teased by a negatively biased classmate and dwells on that teasing negative experience, overlooking all the positive interactions they had throughout the day.

Teenagers: They are especially vulnerable to social comparison. Seeing a friend’s seemingly perfect life on social media can trigger negativity bias, making them feel insecure about their own lives. Intentionally teenagers are made self-conscious about their appearance. The negativity bias can make them hyper focus on perceived flaws, overlooking their positive physical attributes.

Adulthood: An employee receives positive feedback from their manager but dwells on one critical comment even from a colleague, feeling discouraged about their work. People tend to remember losses more vividly than gains. This negativity bias can make us overly cautious with investments or lead to regret over past financial decisions.

Older Adulthood: Negatively biased Seniors might focus on aches and pains, overlooking their overall health and well-being. Older adults are more likely to watch news media, which often focuses on negative events. This constant exposure can fuel negativity bias.

Social Learning and Confirmation Bias:

We learn from those around us, and if negativity is prevalent in our social circles or the media we consume, it can reinforce a depression mindset. Confirmation bias also plays a role. We tend to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, so if you’re feeling down, you might gravitate towards news stories or conversations that focus on the negative.

Why Positivity Takes Effort:

While negativity can feel ingrained, a celebration mindset requires intentionality. Here’s why:

• Overcoming the Negativity Bias: We have to work against our brain’s natural tendency to focus on the negative.
• Building New Habits: Developing a celebration mindset requires consistent effort to cultivate new habits like gratitude and acknowledging achievements.
• Challenge Negative Thoughts: We need to actively challenge negative self-talk and replace it with more positive and realistic thoughts.

Celebration Mindset Isn’t Always Easy, But It’s Worth It:

While it may take more effort, a celebration mindset has numerous benefits. It can:

• Boost Happiness and Well-being: Focusing on the positive aspects of life can lead to greater happiness and overall well-being.
• Increase Resilience: A positive outlook can help you bounce back from setbacks and challenges more easily.
• Improve Motivation: Celebrating your achievements can motivate you to keep striving for your goals.

Remember:

A celebration mindset isn’t about ignoring negativity or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about acknowledging challenges while also focusing on the positive aspects of life. It’s a skill that can be developed with practice, and the rewards are significant.

The interesting parallels between celebration and depression mindsets

There are interesting parallels between celebration and depression mindsets, even though they lead to opposite emotional states. In other words, apparently it is same attitude or same inherent traits but in reality they take you to the other side of the scale. Or simply resides you in hell or in heaven. Here’s a breakdown of some key similarities:

Focus:

• Both are all-encompassing: Both celebration and depression mindsets tend to color our entire perception of life. When celebrating, everything feels positive and full of potential. Conversely, with depression, negativity becomes the dominant lens through which we see the world.
• Attention to detail: Both celebration and depression mindsets involve a heightened focus on details, but in different ways. In a celebration mindset, we zoom in on positive details, savoring small wins and focusing on the good things. With depression, our attention fixates on negative details, magnifying setbacks and dwelling on what’s wrong.

Impact on Perception:

• Cognitive distortions: Both mindsets can lead to cognitive distortions, which are basically ways our thinking can be skewed. A celebration mindset might downplay challenges or overestimate abilities. Depression can lead to black-and-white thinking (“everything is bad”) or discounting positives (“these achievements don’t matter”).
• Filtering information: Both celebration and depression mindsets involve filtering information to fit our dominant perspective. In a celebration mindset, we might overlook potential problems or challenges. With depression, we tend to focus on negative information and ignore evidence to the contrary.

Important Differences:

• Emotional state: The key difference is the emotional state each mindset cultivates. A celebration mindset fosters happiness, gratitude, and motivation. Depression leads to sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of motivation.
• Sustainability: A celebration mindset encourages a healthy view of life, acknowledging both challenges and successes. Depression tends to be a more fixed and unsustainable way of thinking.

By understanding these parallels, we can become more aware of our thought patterns and work towards cultivating a more balanced and celebratory mindset.

In Conclusion,

Our brains are wired for survival, and part of that is a negativity bias. It’s important to remember that the brain’s negativity bias is a natural tendency, not a flaw. So, by being aware of it, we can challenge negative thoughts and cultivate a more balanced perspective in all stages of life.

Another escape from the depression mindset trap is the observation of the parallels between celebration and depression mindsets. By understanding these parallels, we can become more aware of our thought patterns and work towards cultivating a more balanced and celebratory mindset.