Does growth ever result from negativity?

Question

For example, if one has a negative attitude about accomplishing a goal, will the goal ever be accomplished?

Answer 1

Complete negativity, no. But neither from complete optimism. A kind of balance between the two equates growth, even if the scale's a little tipsy.

Looking at it from a different perspective, you can grow from complete negativity - it just won't be the type of growth most people would normally try to achieve. And while ignorance may be bliss, there's no denying what's in front of you.

Answer 2

if you're talking about a goal, I'd say, yes the goal can get accomplished, but the feeling of reward or accomplishment will not be satisfying or high. Ever watch a reality show, where a group of people have to work as a team, and there are a couple of people who hate each other? Well they b*tch and moan, and the job gets done, but there is no fulfillment in it. Also check out the amazing race, these types put human behaviour under the microscope quite well sometimes.

Answer 3

Growth from negativity? I feel the answer is yes. Many famous poems, books, art, and other creative facets come from negativity.

Also, negative events can trigger a positive reaction from people in general. A very good example would be something like the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The attacks were vicious, startling, and horrible…obviously very negative. But people banded together to help those in need. America experienced a surge of patriotism and brotherhood. This strong desire of human beings to band together in times of tribulation can result in former enemies becoming friends, or help from strangers whom you would never have encountered before.

If you look at growth from negativity in a personal sense, I feel it is also a good thing. A great example of this is myself. Growing up, my family was not monetarily well off. We were not poor, however, we had just enough money to afford basic foods like rice, bread and sometimes milk and pasta. Meat was not an everyday thing, and we lived in a cemetery (well, we technically lived adjacent to a cemetery but the apartment, which was a converted barn, was surrounded by the cemetery). My clothes were mostly hand-me-downs from my older cousins, so fashion was something I did not know. The money situation was a definite negative, but taught me to be thankful for what I have, and to always be polite to those around me. I learned how to be a good person because I wasn’t given anything on a silver platter. I paid for my own activities at school and abroad, I paid for my college, and have been working since I was 12. By dealing with negative circumstances, I was able to flourish into an almost responsible adult. My parents were good, and that helped significantly, but I feel I am a better person because of the circumstances of my upbringing.

Negative events and issues tend to either break a person down, or steel their resolve to rise above their past and look to the future. I feel that you need negativity to strengthen the positive. Just as muscles in a human being need to break down before they reform, or how you have to melt metal down to make jewelry….Negativity can and will breed positive items. The trick is to allow it to build you up rather then rip you down.

In response to your additional details, I think a negative attitude will NOT help attain a goal. If you go after a goal without the heart to seize it….is the goal really worth all the sacrifice to attain? If you have to go someplace and you do not want to, a person will make excuses why they can’t go. Or perhaps cut a corner or two resulting in a cheap and hallow victory. Before this paragraph, I spoke of negativity as a source to rocket one’s self to greatness. Using that negative energy as volatile fuel can help push a person to succeed….or to explode. But when you thrust yourself towards a goal with someone forcing you there, or not having your heart in it…the goal just doesn’t seem as fantastic to attain.

Answer 4

Are we talking about emotional growth?
If so, ABSOLUTELY.
Even the most negative experiences in ones life can be turned into learning experiences and opportunities for growth......and I say that with complete conviction even about violent and very negative situations that one may suffer at the hands of another through no fault of their own. This may sound impossible, as in how can this possibly be seen as a growth experience?......yet in my own life experiences with such things I have learned about my own strength and resilience. I have learned much about survival and most of all about forgiveness and rising above the circumstances one cannot control. So I would have to answer with a definite yes to your question, as at some level I am thankful for all of my experiences even the very bad ones. Sorry for being so long winded...you always have thought provoking questions.........
Oh Truthy One.

Answer 5

In the art world, yes. Look at the 1970s punk movement in England and later in the USA. The music was totally negative and poked fun at society's pretensions. Punk formed a powerful image in the music world. Eventually images of musicians eventually found its way to MTV and music has been mostly about images ever since.

Answer 6

Growth is the upward movement, or moving to the next level of a cycle that involves negativity & positivity in myriad ways.

Answer 7

The poet Keats was forever banging on about 'negative capbility'. He loved the notion that you could feel 'negative' about things as it improved ones creativity.

Answer 8

If you believe in the Big Bang theory, then yes.

But other than that, that's a really good question. I'm going to think on that one...

Answer 9

No.
Negativity will stump your growth. Growth requires work and patience. Patience requires optimism and faith.

Answer 10

Flippantly?.....Yes!
Where do you think a photo from film comes from? It is a positive from a negative.