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Focus on the Smiles: How to Defeat the Negativity Bias

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01.05.2026

The negativity bias makes our brains act like Velcro for bad experiences and Teflon for good ones.

We subconsciously view rude people as evolutionary threats, wasting our emotional energy on them.

When the world feels harsh, consciously pull your attention away from negativity and look for the smilers.

Recently, I visited a beautiful museum and gardens in Los Angeles. I have been there many times and usually enjoy their cafeteria-style restaurant, having eaten there probably 15 to 20 times before. But on this particular day, there was a heavy, negative energy in the air.

The staff serving the food were having a remarkably bad day and were projecting it outward. If I asked a question, they would scowl; when I tried to order, they told me I was doing it wrong. I practice intermittent fasting, so it had been a long time since I had eaten, and I was quite hungry. I remained quiet and didn't snap back, but the constant bombardment of negativity made it difficult to just get my food and sit down.

I finally made it through the line, only for the cashier to call me back, sharply noting she had forgotten to charge me for an obvious item on my tray.

Right at that moment, out of nowhere, a woman approached me. She looked at me and said, "Do you........

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