We Spiral
6 hours ago
- #self-improvement
- #psychology
- #workplace-dynamics
- Senior vs. junior staffers react differently to being late to a meeting, with juniors more likely to ruminate on perceived snark or exclusion.
- Negative spirals start when a 'bad' event triggers unresolved core questions about identity, belonging, or adequacy.
- Core questions (e.g., 'Do I belong?') shape how we interpret ambiguous social cues, leading to confirmation bias.
- Construal refers to how we interpret events based on our internal lenses, often focusing on perceived threats.
- Calcification occurs when negative thoughts become entrenched through repeated self-defeating actions.
- Negative spirals can be prevented or reversed with 'wise interventions'—small, timely actions that reframe challenges positively.
- Personal anecdotes (e.g., feeling excluded by an In-N-Out truck) illustrate how small events can trigger deeper insecurities.
- Recognizing 'tifbits' (tiny facts leading to big theories) helps identify underlying core questions and address them constructively.