Discounting the Positives Test
You respond to compliments by putting yourself down instead of accepting them.
Even when your presentation goes well, you can't stop thinking about that one small mistake.
You're planning an event, but you're already convinced it won't go smoothly.
You earned recognition for your work, but you minimize your own role in achieving it.
Your report received glowing feedback, yet you fixate on that tiny piece of constructive criticism.
You dwell on the stressful parts of a trip, even though it was enjoyable overall.
People compliment your speech, but you chalk it up to pure chance rather than skill.
You landed a promotion, but you tell yourself anyone could have gotten it.
You receive a dinner invitation, but you suspect the host just pities you.
You brace for disappointment by assuming things will go wrong.
When someone shows you affection, you worry they'd change their mind if they saw your true self.
You accomplish something impressive, then immediately move on without acknowledging your success.
Someone shows interest in you, but you assume they haven't seen the real you yet.
Friends thank you for helping out, and you brush it off as something anyone could have done.
You scored well on a test or paper, but you convince yourself it was only because it was easy.
15 questions remaining
Things to Know
- Aaron Beck created cognitive behavior therapy and discovered that his depressed patients experienced cognitive distortions and negative thought patterns, such as minimizing the positive. These thoughts don't make sense or have any proof.
- If you don't appreciate the good things in your life, you might not feel good about yourself and lose confidence. This negativity can make someone less motivated. Why should I try if I know I'll fail? It's best to put goals and objectives on hold.
- This way of thinking is bad for relationships because it can spread from one person to another. Also, if you think negatively, the people around you may feel like they don't matter or are not valued.
- A person who is negative can change how they react to negativity by using cognitive reappraisal. They might try to see a situation from a different, more positive angle. The goal is to learn how to better control how you feel.
- When someone is aware of themselves and knows how they think, they are more likely to be able to fight their negative thoughts. This could stop the thought pattern before it causes serious mental distress.
Change Now
Write it down. Get a pen and write down something good that happened.
Grow gratitude: Being thankful right away puts us in a good mood instead of a bad one.
Get help from a professional: A mental health professional can help you deal with your negative thoughts.
