Does having Asperger's make it hard to think positive?

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I've noticed a lot of people have the ability to "self-deceive".

"Things will get better."
"Think positive."
"How do you know that something bad will happen?"
"You don't know for sure, so why do you think it will be bad?"
"Rejoice in life."
"Just live a day at a time."
"There is someone for everyone."
"All you need is confidence."
"Tragedies do happen, but don't focus on them. Remember there is so much good in the world."
"You think too much!!"
"Don't worry, it will all work out."

The above statements aren't necessarily self-deceptions, it just seems like they are relied on heavily in lieu of a more detailed, statistical analysis.

It has been said that the human mind is wired to see things slightly more positively than "objective reality" may show. It may be a protective mechanism that has evolved over time.

Many people view the world as an essentially positive place, in spite of horrible tragedies occurring to their neighbors, for instance. They can just block it out, even incorporate a more positive worldview based on a selective screening of factual evidence. Anything too upsetting goes in the wastebasket.

I am an agnostic and have trouble having faith in anything for the same reason. Life just seems very random with no guarantees. The fact of human suffering and tragedy, not just human but on all levels...is deeply upsetting. People tend to dismiss this with "What are you doing about it?" as if they are a fly on the wall... as if being upset about tragedy is somehow evidence that you are not trying to make it better.

Perhaps it is not a matter of ignoring the negative but possessing the ability to box it up and forget about it when needed. Wish I had the ability to do this, perhaps it is Asperger's or some other cognitive reason for being unable to ignore the negative.

Thoughts?

For me,

It meant recognizing this sentence....

"I've noticed a lot of people have the ability to "self-deceive". "

led to all of the other negative that followed.


And this sentence.....

"I am an agnostic and have trouble having faith in anything "

Is self defeating. with strong emotional energy.


I don't know if its harder? But it ain't rocket science.

THere may be chemical causes or environmental causes. or effects. for/from "uncontrollable negative pretext"

I have recognized a cycle to things in my life and what triggers certain emotions or anxieties I need to give attention to. Something out of sync in one area can cause "uncontrollable negative pretext" about unrelated issues. SO you dismiss a lot of it and move on.

You can't always control the words or images that pop into your head, but you can control which ones you hold on to, and which ones you play with, or challernge yourself with.

I'm just sayin'

This assumes that there are "good" thoughts and "bad" thoughts. I believe that it's better to evaluate thinking based on whether it is logical or illogical, true or false thoughts. An illogical thought is not necessarily negative nor is it positive. It simply is.

Some of that annoys me. To me it's like a lie and how do they know how things will turn out or what will happen? I think people lie to themselves because they don't like to worry so positive thoughts keep them happy.

My mother tells me I love to worry. I guess I do then or else I would be thinking positive thoughts. Can you like doing something and not know it even though you hate it?

Personally it really annoys when people tell me to "think positive" or "don't focus on the bad things" or "stop worrying all the time, happiness is a choice you know". It annoys me because I don't know how to think that way. I am, and I always have been, a pessimist. Also, just like RobotGreenAlien2 said, I easily go into mental loops where I keep thinking and worrying about things. It's hard to break those thought patterns.

If people did not ignore the negative it would not of built up & got even worse. Ignoring it does not make it go away. The ones who make a better world is the ones who don't turn away from it. Ones who constantly bombard the brick walls with flak trying to smash them down. We will be that annoying fly in your ear, up your nose, in your mouth, until you listen & start caring & open your heart.

It would be so much more easier if they were not they in the first place & better people were in the jobs in the first place. Who can listen & have a grasp on reality & don't turn away from it.

& actually read stuff & are honest, don't care if you don't want to hear it, then don't have the job in the first place.

Ignoring it or self delusional thinking does not make it go away. Only thing your doing is turning a blind eye.

You want to know why most people suffer, because hidden away inside you that guilt is there.

*Nods excessively* YES, it does.

If I thought positive I'd just be lying to and deluding myself and setting myself up for disappointment.