To Think in Black and White

"Life keeps throwing me stones. And I keep finding diamonds..." -Ana Claudia Antunes 

"My car ran out of gas, I walked into work a few minutes late, managing to spill my coffee in the process. The vending machine stole my money and the line of traffic going home was as far as the eye can see. Nothing ever goes right for me!"

Does this sound familiar?

To think with an all-or-nothing mindset means to measure your own happiness on a scale of extremes. A person who practices this mentality sees their days in black and white by responding to life with extreme emotion, both positive and negative. 

When hyperboles begin to appear in your vocabulary more often it is typically a sign of falling into this unhealthy process of thinking. Especially in times like these, it can feel easy to write off each day as the worst one yet, even if nothing particularly devastating has happened. 

There is a momentary sense of comfort in allowing yourself to blow off steam by screaming "always" and "never" statements into the universe. However, it has been found to do more harm than good for us if it becomes habitual by increasing anxiety and depression. 

In my personal experience, focusing on what goes wrong in our lives is rooted in an unrealistic expectation we set for ourselves on what goes right. It is impossible for all of our days to be completely perfect. More often than not, something will not go as planned. 

What's most important is how we react to minor inconveniences. Sometimes your world may feel like it's crumbling even though deep down you know what's bothering you won't matter in a year from now. It can be exhausting for both yourself and others to see you put yourself down about things that are likely not in your control. 

That's when you must take a step back from the situation to put it into perspective and remind yourself that one bad day does not equate to total failure. 

Sending love, always.

-Nature of the Girl ♡