Stop Being Negative and Enjoy Life in 5 Easy Steps
- Brainz Magazine
- Nov 24
- 4 min read
Written by Gemma Sheppard, Mindset Coach
Gemma Sheppard BSc, MSc, is a mindset coach for ambitious women who have lost themselves. She helps women reclaim their self-worth, own their big identity shifts & remember who the f*ck they are, using a unique blend of science and spirituality.
One thing I’ve noticed since moving back to England is how much British people love complaining, it’s exhausting. It seems like some people can find fault in almost anything. The traffic, the weather, the way someone spoke, everything is a reason to be frustrated or let down. I used to think that the person was the problem, maybe it was genetic, and their whole family was negative people. But actually, it is their brain.
The human brain constantly scans for information that confirms what it already believes to be true. So if you believe life is hard, unfair, or filled with difficult people, your brain will filter your experiences through that belief, and you will keep finding proof. This is known as confirmation bias, and it quietly determines how you interpret your entire world.
The psychology of negative thinking
When your mind is trained to look for problems, your body follows. Negative thinking and emotions like anger, resentment, and frustration release stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.
Your brain begins craving the intensity of those emotional spikes, even when your logical mind wants peace. The body learns to feel safe in chaos because chaos feels familiar. Over time, this chemical state becomes subconsciously comfortable, and the nervous system starts to seek it out, meaning the brain becomes unintentionally addicted to negative thinking patterns.
Yes, you read that right, addicted like we get addicted to smoking, drugs, or alcohol, except it is to negative emotional states. And these are just as damaging, if not worse than addictions to substances, because most drug addicts know they are drug addicts, but people with a negative mindset may not even know there is another option.
And here is the worst part, your negative mindset might be killing you. So even if you do not smoke, your body is still under attack from the addiction to negativity.
Your mindset is the lens you live through
Think of your mindset as the glasses through which you experience reality. If the glasses are clouded with judgment, comparison, or self-righteousness, everything you see will look distorted. But if you start clearing that lens by noticing what is working and what is true, you begin to see life differently.
This does not mean ignoring your emotions or pretending everything is fine. It means training your attention to include what is actually true, safety, progress, connection, and possibility.
Five steps to retrain your brain
I have to add a caveat here, as the title says five easy steps. And the steps themselves are not difficult, but the process of breaking the negative thinking cycle will take time. Whether you stick with it depends on how much you want to live your life differently.
Notice your focus: Observe how often you scan for problems. Awareness is the first stage of emotional intelligence.
Pause before reacting: A deep breath interrupts the stress response and gives your brain a moment to reset.
Reframe: Ask, “What else could be true?” or “What is one thing going right?” This builds cognitive flexibility and helps weaken negative thinking patterns.
Practise gratitude and humour: Both increase dopamine and serotonin, naturally countering your brain’s negativity bias and helping shift your negative mindset toward a more positive outlook.
Repeat daily. Neuroplasticity happens through repetition. The more often you redirect your attention, the stronger the new pattern becomes.
The mindset shift that changes everything
If you are always looking for something to be annoyed about, you will always find it. But if you start looking for signs of peace, progress, and purpose you will find those too. You do not see life as it is, you see it as you are. And the more you clean that internal lens, the clearer and calmer your world becomes.
This does not just benefit you by literally increasing your lifespan, it benefits others because they are not constantly polluted with your negative thinking or energy. Your mindset does not just influence your emotions, it creates your experience. Change your focus, and you change your life.
Read more from Gemma Sheppard
Gemma Sheppard, Mindset Coach
Gemma is the founder of Align & Grow Coaching and author of the Align & Shine Workbook, guiding women through the messy stages of identity shifts into unapologetic confidence. With a background in Psychology (BSc) and Human-Animal Interaction (MSc), she blends evidence-based tools with grounded spirituality and a no BS approach. Her work includes digital products, workshops, and coaching experiences. You'll usually find her outside with her horse or rescue dog, dreaming of a future animal sanctuary X retreat centre. Her mantra, f*ck fitting in.
