These Signs Prove That You Are Too Negative

Mistakes tend to become indictments

If a small moment of forgetfulness or oversight at work tends to balloon in your mind into a major screw up or just one more example of a pattern of your failures, you might be a bit too negative. April Selfert, who has a Ph.D. in social cognitive psychology and runs a website and podcast designed to help people live their most fulfilled lives, gives the example of forgetting your office keys at home.

“There are likely to be benign explanations for why you were forgetful, but if you veer toward the negative, you might be more likely to think, ‘I’m so stupid! I can’t believe I forgot my keys again! I always do this!’” she says.