FC Member Blog

Nonsense At Work

BY James McIntosh | 05-03-2010 | 7:21 AM

This blog is written by a member of our blogging community and expresses that member's views alone.

Positive affirmations trigger negative mood:

I’ve always wondered why those happy-clappy people annoy me so much. You know the type I mean – always smiling and drooling at the joys of life. To them, every day is a fantastic day, every thought a positive one, every mistake a learning opportunity.

I think I’ve found the answer to my irritation. Instead of cheering me up and sweeping me along in the wake of their good mood, they depress me. That’s because their gung ho attitude and positive statements clash with my less rosy world view.

Researchers have shown that it can back fire on you to make positive statements about yourself which you don’t really believe. I think the same happens when my nonsense detector is triggered by someone sprouting can-do affirmations to boost his aura.

In other words, your happy mood and smiley face can actually trigger my bad mood and glaring frown. You have been warned.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

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