By Phil Riske | Senior Reporter, Writer
With the world spinning crazily from the impact of COVID-19 — one could easily justify complaining about the utter lack of socialization and conveniences. It is, nevertheless, a time for positivity because constant complaining can mess with your brain as much as the pandemic can.
For years now, Rose Law Group Reporter has published columns that delve into pet peeves, daily irritants and maddening situations encountered in daily life. The coronavirus is far beyond an irritant.
I came across information about how “exposure to nonstop negativity actually impairs brain function. We hope our gripe columns don’t fall into that category, but in case, we provide some suggestions free of charge, with the help of Trevor Blake, author of Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life.
In the book, Blake describes how neuroscientists have learned to measure brain activity when faced with various stimuli, including a long session of complaining.
“The brain works more like a muscle than we thought,” he writes. “So if you’re pinned in a corner for too long listening to someone being negative, you’re more likely to behave that way as well.”
Even worse, Blake says, being exposed to too much complaining can actually make you dumb. Research shows exposure to 30 minutes or more of negativity (including viewing stupid stuff on TV, about which we often complain) actually peels away the part of the brain needed for problem solving — turning your brain to “mush,” he writes.
Blake says complainers typically don’t want a solution, and your brain will thank you if you get yourself away from the complainer, if you can. If you can’t easily walk away, ask the complainer to fix the problem.
Or keep socially distant.
Together, we can make a more perfect world.
