I don’t say that, especially not in response to someone sharing something that’s upsetting them, but it feels like there’s a connection for me at least. I’m an American immigrant in Germany and there’s a huge cultural difference in both mood (unrelated to things like depression or anxiety) and optimism between the two countries. I tried to adjust how I talk about my expectations to better fit in for a while, but it was stressing me the fuck out. When I stopped verbalizing negative expectations as much (I still do express pessimism, but only about things that I’m actually pessimistic about), I experienced fewer of them. I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me, choosing to express happiness created more happiness and choosing to express doubt created more doubt.
I don’t say that, especially not in response to someone sharing something that’s upsetting them, but it feels like there’s a connection for me at least. I’m an American immigrant in Germany and there’s a huge cultural difference in both mood (unrelated to things like depression or anxiety) and optimism between the two countries. I tried to adjust how I talk about my expectations to better fit in for a while, but it was stressing me the fuck out. When I stopped verbalizing negative expectations as much (I still do express pessimism, but only about things that I’m actually pessimistic about), I experienced fewer of them. I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me, choosing to express happiness created more happiness and choosing to express doubt created more doubt.
Friend, this is an ADHD community. Not a, “have you tried changing your outlook” community.
Which is why I’m sharing a coping skill that works for me.
I might actually do that. Happiness is tacky.