Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

How do you deal with other people telling you to stop being so negative?

10 Answers
Last Updated: 11/15/2021 at 5:30pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United Kingdom
Moderated by

Lisa Meighan, MSc Psychology

Counselor

🌈 Welcome to 7 Cups :) I work using an eclectic style of psychotherapy and we work according to your goals, preferences and needs using evidence-based practices.

Top Rated Answers
Jaelin
January 26th, 2015 1:36am
I tell them I'm not negative, but realistic. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. That's real and its helpful. And if they see that as negative, maybe they should adjust their perspective instead of trying to attack mine.
Anonymous
April 25th, 2015 1:19am
As someone who is clinically depressed, I just tell them to mind their own business. I can't help being so negative sometimes, and even if I could, it's hard. When I talk to my friends, I don't want them to tell me to just stop feeling the way I do, I want support and validation. If someone isn't accepting of you (negative or not), I'd either talk to them, or ignore it. Your feeling are valid, and negativity can be hard to shake. And that's 100% okay.
KyKyleee
January 12th, 2015 6:30pm
Personally, it's really hard for me to stay positive. Sometimes I have real long periods of negativity. In my case, I try to explain why I am negative. It's not something that can be easily changed. I think once that is emphasized people are more accepting of it. People don't realize that I can't just force myself to be positive.
ArrietheKing
May 22nd, 2015 12:50am
First of all, maybe some people would tell you to act more upbeat. I strongly disagree with that. Be yourself. Don't act like someone you're not. I think you could try to find what makes you be negative. If you are perfectly happy, with nothing to make you feel sad, then I guess you don't listen to what they say. They can't choose who you are and your personality. xx and good luck!
softSunrise6
February 29th, 2016 10:23am
Just be yourself, that's all that you can really be and you're going through troubles in your life where you may be negative, acknowledge that and you don't have to change it in a snap of a finger but work towards being happy with who you are and you will be happy with everything.
cleanSpirit89
June 3rd, 2015 9:13am
If people just tel "don't be negative" in my opinion it only hurts probably. There are mano different ways to comunicate with others, and these ways make the difference. My uncle once told me that he doesn't see gratitude in me, for life in general, and that makes me reflect a lot, and help me so much to understand what i give to the people around me and what i give to my own self!
Anonymous
December 5th, 2017 2:54am
I just ignore them. Because people are never gonna understand mental issues until they live it themselves. So do not even bother to explain to them.
Anonymous
June 30th, 2015 6:00pm
Look at them, smile and say I'm not negative, I'm positive I am the person I always wanted to be and if you don't like it back away please.
Anonymous
November 7th, 2017 6:38am
Listen to what others have to say. Sometimes when we are in a negative mood we don't realize what we are saying to others.
Anonymous
November 15th, 2021 5:30pm
Sometimes people who want the best for you might not be able to fully understand what it’s like in your shoes. They may think that your problems are not as big as you think they are, and that is okay because we all have different frames of reference. However, it is important to remember to be a compassionate, empathetic listener where we can. Unfortunately, not everyone can listen all the time, so people may get frustrated when the people they care about might not be getting better as quickly as they had hoped. It is important to communicate clearly to them that you are struggling, and while you do not necessarily want to feel the way that you do, certain circumstances are just leaving you feeling that way and there is not much you can do about it at the moment.