Negativity bias: a short poem

It’s easy to believe that negativity bias means always thinking pessimistically, as if the world was full of gloom and misery.

That it means ignoring all the good things in your life, and only dwelling on the struggles and the strife.

That it is something that you can just switch off at will, as if it’s a light that you can easily still.

That people with negativity bias, are just Debbie Downer’s, bringing everyone else down with their frowns and their pouters.

That it’s a sign of weakness, or lack of mental grit, like a flaw that you need to overcome or outwit.

But the truth is that it’s simply how our brains are wired, to pay more attention to the things that make us scared or tired.

It’s not something you can just ignore or pretend isn’t there, it’s a natural part of being human and it’s OK to care.

So don’t beat yourself up if you’re prone to seeing the tough, just remember to balance it out with all the other good stuff.