18/02/2024
Negative Thinking by Dr. Abdoolhakim
The view of the current world, for Muslims, can be overwhelming negative, brought on mainly by feelings of hopelessness, helplessness & and the absence of justice. In this Allah swt commands in Al Imran:
“ولاتهنوا ولا تحزنوا “
Pessimists receive strong criticism for their inclinations toward negativity & their mindset of expecting the worst in most situations.
Besides taking a toll on our mental health, our physical health takes a beating as well. Pessimism, while it may be useful in isolation or in moderation, is associated with anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, hostility, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Having realistic expectations, rather than taking extremely positive or negative positions, may actually be the recipe for good health & some level of happiness. Low levels of pessimism, rather than high levels of optimism have actually been associated with better health.
In other words, pessimism may be a risk factor for heart disease and other physical and mental health conditions, but optimism would not prevent you from becoming ill. Our goal should be moderate optimism with a daily dose of pessimism.
How can I combat my own pessimism?
Recognize & label negative thoughts when they arise, & try to set them aside by not giving them much attention; it only makes them more powerful. Zoom out & focus on something different (either positive or neutral). Acknowledge whatever difficult emotions you may be feeling.
Instead of avoiding a pessimistic person, which in most cases is unavoidable, try to identify possible sources of their negativity. Perhaps they are going through a difficult time & could use a sympathetic ear. Understanding the cause of a person’s pessimistic outlook can lead to creative ideas to boost, improve their outlook - optimism.
Pessimism usually is not a conscious choice Some people are genetically predisposed to be more negative than others. However, pessimism usually develops from external circumstances; negative things that happen in life. Pessimists also may push their loved ones away just when they need them the most.
Similar to other negative feelings, pessimism can be contagious - one person to another. Some factors that can make a person more susceptible to pessimism include their genetics, personal history, & stress levels among other factors.
The practice & understanding of our Faith is essential towards having the mindset that can mitigate this feeling of Pessimism, and its’ side effects, especially if it has become chronic in our lives - diligently reading the Quran, purifying oneself from intentional & unintentional sins, diligently worshipping/praying, etc., aids in neutralising a pessimistic worldview. This Hadith should be our foundational mindset.
“… عجبالامر المءمن ان امره كله خير …”
Also, we seem to say " انا لله وانا اليه راجعون "
Exclusively at the time of death.
"… إذا أصبتهم مصيبة قالوا …"
Should be pronounced when we or others experience/faced with any problem/difficulty - a reminder of the temporary nature of our existence.
ولنبلونكم بشيء من الخوف والجوع ونقص من الأموال والأنفس والثمرات وبشر الصابرين.
