How do you stop yourself from being too cynical?

[57 Chevy]

I'm sure it's partly down to age (50) but I'm finding it very difficult to look at something like a news report without immediately spotting the true motivations, seeing through the spin and seeing the real story. This can happen at work and in other aspects of life too.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this, viewing other posts on the board, but I'm worried that it may be impacting me as it's hard not to see the worst in things and not be as positive as I used to be.

How do other people cope, do I need to go through some NLP and reprogram myself?

[Tabs]

Wait until you get to 68!!!!

[hairy v]

I think it's a symptom of getting older - you have seen all the broken promises and media spin before so know what to expect.

For good news, I recommend signing up to: https://futurecrunch.com/

[Hoofy]

I'm not sure it's possib... argh!

The problem with specifically being cynical about news stories and apparently realising the true motive is that one minute you're sneering at Bojo the Clown (and calling him Bojo the Clown), and the next minute you're getting anxious thinking the red sky yesterday was because they activated the 5G Covid masts.

I guess part of it is questioning things but also not negatively judging things and learning to accept that it is what it is.

[Skyedriver]

Tabs said:

Wait until you get to 68!!!!

About 30 year ago my employers at the time decided they'd get an analyst in to interview staff to understand sentiment and thoughts on improvement.
The girl asked me all sorts of questions then said "you're very cynical aren't you?"
That was then, I'm now 68 like yourself and surpass my my old cynicism by some distance.....

[monkfish1]

57 Chevy said:

I'm sure it's partly down to age (50) but I'm finding it very difficult to look at something like a news report without immediately spotting the true motivations, seeing through the spin and seeing the real story. This can happen at work and in other aspects of life too.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this, viewing other posts on the board, but I'm worried that it may be impacting me as it's hard not to see the worst in things and not be as positive as I used to be.

How do other people cope, do I need to go through some NLP and reprogram myself?

Cynicism is just unpopular realism.

As others have siad it happens because you have life experience. These days, most of the time when a company or government or a council says something, you instinctively know the outcome will be nothing like what they say.

[andyA700]

monkfish1 said:

57 Chevy said:

I'm sure it's partly down to age (50) but I'm finding it very difficult to look at something like a news report without immediately spotting the true motivations, seeing through the spin and seeing the real story. This can happen at work and in other aspects of life too.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this, viewing other posts on the board, but I'm worried that it may be impacting me as it's hard not to see the worst in things and not be as positive as I used to be.

How do other people cope, do I need to go through some NLP and reprogram myself?

Cynicism is just unpopular realism.

As others have siad it happens because you have life experience. These days, most of the time when a company or government or a council says something, you instinctively know the outcome will be nothing like what they say.

This all day long ^^^^^

[DanL]

Stop reading and watching the news, except a quick scan of the headlines so you’ve got an idea of what’s going on in the world.

You can’t impact or change anything really, so why depress yourself with the details?

[Monkeylegend]

Skyedriver said:

Tabs said:

Wait until you get to 68!!!!

About 30 year ago my employers at the time decided they'd get an analyst in to interview staff to understand sentiment and thoughts on improvement.
The girl asked me all sorts of questions then said "you're very cynical aren't you?"
That was then, I'm now 68 like yourself and surpass my my old cynicism by some distance.....

Wait until you get to 69 then

I thought when I retired seven years ago that life would become more relaxing that I would just go with the flow and not let anything get to me, and that I would definitely not turn into my Father.

Fat chance, I am worse now than I have ever been.

Edited by Monkeylegend on Friday 18th March 09:08

[Spare tyre]

My outlaws are recently retired

They spend hours watching BBC news each day. All doom and gloom, drags em down.

If we manage to get them away for a few hours they brighten up!

[Ransoman]

I started doing this just before I turned 35. I think the politics of the pandemic and the Trump government in the USA really highlighted how manipulated we really are.

[Type R Tom]

I'm not even 40 yet and after dealing with the general public for 18 years I am close to having life beaten out of me.

My old boss was the archetypal moany old man and I used to wonder how he got that way, I'm not even half way through my career and I can see it coming.

[57 Chevy]

Thanks for the replies so far, it's good to know I'm not alone.

Keeping away from the news would definitely help, I really need to try and do that somehow. I feel like I need to keep informed as there is so much going on but the reality is it actually has very little impact on me and there isn't much I can do about it anyway.

I've subscribed to that recommended good news site thanks for the link. I did enjoy the "Some Good News" YouTube channel during the pandemic.

I have some trips coming up which I think will help, I've been feel like I've been cooped up in the house for two years even though I have managed to get out a bit.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Cynicism these days is also known as wearing a tin-foil hat, don'cha know!

[A500leroy]

All humans are out for themselves and whatthey can get to make themselves richer, thats not cynical its just the truth.

[anonymous-user]

andyA700 said:

monkfish1 said:

57 Chevy said:

I'm sure it's partly down to age (50) but I'm finding it very difficult to look at something like a news report without immediately spotting the true motivations, seeing through the spin and seeing the real story. This can happen at work and in other aspects of life too.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this, viewing other posts on the board, but I'm worried that it may be impacting me as it's hard not to see the worst in things and not be as positive as I used to be.

How do other people cope, do I need to go through some NLP and reprogram myself?

Cynicism is just unpopular realism.

As others have siad it happens because you have life experience. These days, most of the time when a company or government or a council says something, you instinctively know the outcome will be nothing like what they say.

This all day long ^^^^^

Definitely this 1000%

[Monkeylegend]

A500leroy said:

All humans are out for themselves and whatthey can get to make themselves richer, thats not cynical its just the truth.

I would not say that is strictly correct.

Personally I have never chased money and gave up a very well paid job in my mid 40s that would have made me much better off financially than I am now. Being in control of my own life was more important to me and I have no regrets for doing so.

Financially comfortable yes, but rich, meh. Being rich can make you as unhappy as being poor.

IMO.

[Red9zero]

Pre Covid we would have BBC news on the TV while we getting ready in the morning. It just got so depressing it would spoil the rest of the day, so it's now just the local radio on in the morning.

[RicksAlfas]

DanL said:

Stop reading and watching the news, except a quick scan of the headlines so you’ve got an idea of what’s going on in the world.

You can’t impact or change anything really, so why depress yourself with the details?

This, this and this again.

The majority of people are decent, funny and just want to get along. But the news and social media fall over themselves in a rush to only bring you bad news. They get a kick out of being the first. Watch once a day if you must, but any form of tweet/update/pinging thing on your phone needs turning off.

[anonymous-user]

RicksAlfas said:

DanL said:

Stop reading and watching the news, except a quick scan of the headlines so you’ve got an idea of what’s going on in the world.

You can’t impact or change anything really, so why depress yourself with the details?

This, this and this again.

The majority of people are decent, funny and just want to get along. But the news and social media fall over themselves in a rush to only bring you bad news. They get a kick out of being the first. Watch once a day if you must, but any form of tweet/update/pinging thing on your phone needs turning off.

Best to keep well clear of NP&E on PH too