How many people do you know or that you are surrounded by (at work or home) that are Chronically Negative? I know two people that I encounter every week that I can garauntee that they will make a negative statement or a "rain on my parade" rebuttle when I chat with them. It usually goes something, but not limited to, this:
John: "Hey man, the Panthers are doing really well this season, huh? That was a great game last week."
Negative Guy: "Well...they really should have lost that game, and they play (?) next week, so we can chalk that up as a loss."
...makes me want to punch him in the face every time. Here is my last example, so that maybe you girls know what I mean.
John: "Hey I heard that (enter name here) just got a new house and is dating some guy that she met last month."
Negative Girl: "You know that her parents bought the house, and it's in such a crap neighborhood that I wouldn't be caught dead in. This new guy she's seeing is such a dork, that I doubt that they are together next week."
...holy s#$t! And you call this girl one of your best freinds?
Well it turns out that Karma is getting the best of these Chronically Negative people with doom ahead in their lives, if they continue to think and act this way.
In recent health news the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), shared its findings about the harmful affects on the brain posed by chronic negativity. Research shows that people having a habitual negative disposition are at a greater risk for suffering from memory and comprehension problems later in life, including a higher incidence of Alzheimer's disease, compared to people with a positive disposition and outlook on life.
Scientists and doctors examined the brain scans of patients with an admitted history of negativity in their thinking, feeling, and reacting processes, along with examining the brain scans of patients with noted histories of optimism and positive thinking, looking for any differences in the scans between these two groups if there were any. What researchers found was that there were higher instances of physical and physiological functioning differences that could be seen in the brain scans of the chronically negative versus the instances of physical and physiological changes seen in the brain scans of the chronically positive.
It was noted that in the scans of those who habitually engaged in negative thinking, the structure of the brain had actually been changed and that physiological functions had also been altered. Scientists can now conclude that these structural and physiological changes are as of a result of the exposure of the brain to the chemicals that are produced in the body when we think and feel in a negative fashion. Long term exposure to the chemicals produced by negative emotions changes how the brain naturally functions and the structure of the brain is also changed by parts of the brain that become inactive with chronic negativity.
I would like to relate this back to your fitness and health goals. We are already 15% done with 2009 and you have to ask yourself, if you are on track with your goals this year. If you are, Great! But if you are not, do not beat yourself up or stress about it, make up your mind to take each day at a time and turn it around to do what is in your power to make things happen. Most of all, believe that you can achieve what you first set out to do. It's going to be hard, it's going to be frustrating at times, but it will all be worth it at the end.
good luck
Great article John! I had no idea that the brain actually undergoes a change due to gloom and doom syndrome. Keep up the great work!
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