Listening to Negativity Impairs Your Brain Function


We all have encountered them or even being one of them, whether at home, work or in any other activity just waiting to express a negative aspect of a situation or of life in general. Some call them complainers and to others they are joy suckers as they have the ability to suck every ounce of joy of your day with their negative remarks.
In an article at the INC. magazine entitled “Listening to Negative People Will Make You Dumb”, Minda Zatlin http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/listening-to-complainers-is-bad-for-your-brain.html a business technology writer calls them pure and simply negative people. She point out that “exposure to nonstop negativity impairs brain function.” Research in neuroscience reveals that exposure to excessive complaint or negativity in effect rind away neuron’s hippocampus area of the brain where problem solving occur.
In the book of Matthew, Jesus warns about negativity and complaint, “Do not judge, or you too will be judge.” Matthew 7:1, NIV. James adds: “Brothers and sisters don’t say evil things about each other. Whoever insults or criticizes a brother or sister insults and criticizes the Law. If you find fault with the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge over it.” James 4:11, Common English Bible (CEB).
Paul warns about negative people saying: “they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” I Timothy 5:4-5.
To protect your brain and your soul from the destructive effects of negativity and complain just avoid those who make negativity their banner. If for some reason avoidance is not an option ask the complainer what he/she proposes as a solution for the problem in hand and change the conversation. But by all means don’t allow joy suckers rob your joy.

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