We are more resilient to negative events than we think from "summary" of Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
Our minds tend to exaggerate the impact of negative events, leading us to believe that we will not be able to cope with the consequences. However, research in psychology has shown that we are much more resilient than we anticipate when faced with adversity. This phenomenon can be attributed to our ability to adapt and find ways to bounce back from setbacks. When we imagine a negative event happening to us, we tend to focus on the immediate pain and distress it would cause. Our minds fixate on the worst-case scenario, leading us to believe that we would not be able to handle the situation. This pessimistic outlook on our own resilience can be misleading, as studies have shown that people are often able to recover and move on from negative events much more quickly than they initially thought. One reason for our underestimation of our resilience is the phenomenon known as "psychological immune system." This system enables us to rationalize and reframe negative events in a way that allows us to cope and find meaning in the face of adversity. By finding silver linings or learning valuable lessons from difficult experiences, we are able to adapt and grow stronger in the process. Furthermore, our tendency to engage in "impact bias" can also skew our perception of how negative events would affect us. This bias leads us to overestimate the intensity and duration of our emotional reactions to adverse circumstances. In reality, our emotional response to negative events tends to be more fleeting and less intense than we initially anticipate.- Our minds have a tendency to magnify the impact of negative events and underestimate our ability to bounce back from adversity. However, psychological research has shown that we are much more resilient than we think. By tapping into our psychological immune system and recognizing the transient nature of our emotional responses, we can navigate through challenging times with greater ease and resilience.
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