How to avoid cynicism

[laverda77]

Most times I'm fairly even-keeled, neurosis aside. What I mean by that is most days pass by quietly without great joy or great aggravation. There's very littl edrama in my life, and I'm thankful for that. Each day has its little pleasures, its quiet satisfactions, its confusions, and some minor irritants. I find that when I'm off-center, that's

Comments

[scriptedflight]

When i perceive people in that way, everything seems cold, hostile, and alienating. It starts gradually for me, imperceptably, but over the course of a few days or weeks, I become miserable and depressed. I want to withdraw from everyone and everything when this goes on for a while.

This has happened to me so many times! Just like you said - a gradual growing paranoia that everyone is out to get me, or at least only out to satisfy their own ends.

Never did it occur to me that they may have high-stress jobs, an asshole boss, a shitty marriage, or maybe just a bad case of hemmorhoids.

The fundamental attribution error! Ever since learning about it in psych I always try to consider situational influences instead of immediately jumping to a dispositional attribution. Especially when driving.

It's really fascinating that you were actually able to find and observe positive traits in those people. It really speaks into how much our perceptions colour and shape our reality.

Good for you for taking a step back to consciously shift your perspective. You are a very insightful individual.

[laverda77]

Thank you. I don't know that I'm insightful quite so much as life has just beaten me into a state of reasonableness!

[scriptedflight]

Haha, that's a cool way of putting it.