Why so positive
Generous standards for everyone else. Unforgiving to yourself.
I'd like to know why I can be so positive when talking about others, yet so negative when talking to myself. Psychological double standards?
Academia has an answer: "People naturally reserve more empathy, grace, and support for friends, colleagues, and loved ones, while internalising pressure, setting impossibly high standards, and directing the brain's survival-based negativity bias inward."
So that’s it, of course, it makes perfect sense!
In Pivotonian street-talk—shout out to a Geelong native's take—it lands better:
"Most of us walk around carrying two standards: a generous one for everyone else, and an unforgiving one for ourselves." Resonate?
And circling back to me, the oh so positive one:
“It’s simpleton, you’re giving everyone else room while treating yourself like an army martinet. The brain is wired to play defence. When you look at your friends, you’re forgiving. When you look in the mirror, you’re looking for mistakes.”
I prefer the Pivotonian explanation over mine. Haha. Why am I so positive?
Nick
