Humans are hardwired toward the negative. Our internal systems are built to prioritize guarding against threats.
So it’s not surprising that our culture, including the nature of algorithms, over-indexes on catastrophe, decline, and an “everything is broken” resting position. Negative experiences are more powerful than positive ones.
While things are pretty out of control in our country today, catastrophizing over it eclipses courage and resolve. It blinds us to the everyday Americans doing the remarkable work of democracy. Like Minnesotans earlier this year uniting in their fight against brutality and lawlessness of ICE. (I walk through positive stories like this in a podcast.) When negativity is persistent and seems crushing, people stop believing their actions matter.
Few can be successful at something if they are disillusioned by the task at hand. You — all of us —either need hope or optimism or at least a partial positive attitude. Mental fortitude.
Another reason why the broad brush “everything is awful” complaint is just not helpful: Setbacks in politics are almost always, if not always, temporary. They are reversible, if you play the long game and want to change them badly enough.
Finding a better balance between the negative and positive in politics, as in life, is about proactively deciding the waters you swim in on a daily basis. By reclaiming control and using your agency, you’re less likely to feel like a buoy on the high seas bobbing in whatever direction the algorithmic, or partisan, tide dictates.