BB Grey–musings

Daily writing prompt

What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

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Negative thoughts? Oh, they’re like that one a-hole ex who won’t stop texting you—just lurking in the back of your brain, ready to pop up and ruin your vibe at the worst possible moment. Research says you need three positive hits to cancel out one of those soul-sucking negatives, but in relationships? Buckle up, buttercup, ‘cause the stakes are higher—it’s a 5:1 deal, according to the love gurus John Gottman and Robert Levenson. Five good vibes to outweigh one “you forgot to take out the trash” death glare. No wonder I’m over here feeling like I’m losing at the pinball game of life, especially when it comes to love—those odds are rigged worse than a carnival game run by a dude named Skeeter.

Bad thoughts don’t just vanish; they’re like glitter from a craft project—stuck in the cracks forever, waiting to sparkle up and wreck your day. In relationships, it’s even uglier: one snarky comment about my cooking, and I’m spiraling into “she hates me, I’m a failure, we’re doomed.” Meanwhile, the enemy (aka my brain) is just cackling, stealing my joy like a raccoon in a dumpster. So, how do I cope? I fight dirty. I catch myself mid-spiral and hit back with a positive counterpunch—out loud, no less. Dropped my phone in the toilet? “Wow, I’m a freakin’ idiot.” Immediate follow-up, under my breath: “I’m a genius, I’m a genius, I’m a genius.” Looks weird as hell muttering to myself in the bathroom, but it’s a reset button for my sanity.

Relationships amplify this madness. One negative zinger from my partner, and I’m not just tilting—I’m smashing the machine. But I’ll still try the trick: “She thinks I’m a slob,” becomes “I’m a damn domestic god, I’m a domestic god…” Five times, apparently, to even the score. Gotta be careful though—mumbling “I’m not crazy, I’m not crazy” in the grocery store after a fight might land me a one-way ticket to the loony bin. Point is, negativity’s got the upper hand, but I’m out here swinging with my goofy affirmations, trying to stack the deck in my favor. Pinball wizard? Nah, just a dude hoping to not lose all his quarters.