One of the harder things to overcome during the recovery process is cynicism. Cynicism is defined as a characteristic of constant distrust or disbelief towards people. It’s a type of negative thinking that can hinder a person from fully recovering. Not only that, but, it’s the kind of negativity that can also take a toll on family and friends of the person who’s still recovering in a sober living home.
An Acquired Habit
First of all, cynicism is a learned behavior. It’s a habit that can still be undone. Nobody is born a cynic. However, due to constant disappointments in life, a person may learn to distrust and be constantly suspicious of other people. So for the family and friends, it’s important to remember that cynicism is an acquired habit, and habits can still be broken. And remember that it doesn’t take a weekend for a habit to form. So don’t expect recovering persons to become positive thinkers overnight.
For those who struggle with cynicism, the first step to overcoming this is to realize that it’s a problem to begin with. The next step is to understand that you don’t have to overdo the positivity either. A healthy balance can be achieved, especially if things are taken slowly and on a daily basis.
Appeal To Logic
A possible cure for cynicism is an appeal to logic. When a recovering person acts or thinks in a negative manner, one thing that can be done is to think about it thoroughly. If you’re having a negative reaction to someone or something, is it just a knee-jerk reaction or is it a justified reaction to reality?
Cynicism is not completely negative. A healthy amount of cynicism can be helpful in certain scenarios. If we all believed whatever’s said to us, then different sorts of problems could arise. But if a person, especially a recovering person, is always a cynic, then this person may develop a skewed perception of reality and fail to fully recover.
Channel That Energy
A cynic could also be a person who is resistant to change or new ideas. This person could also be against new people, beliefs, or a new way of life. This is one of the reasons why cynicism could hinder a person’s recovery. He or she might not want to be told to change or to break bad habits.
Being creative is the opposite of stagnation. When a person channels all their negative emotions into a creative outlet, a much needed release happens and a person can start with a clean slate.
Learn From Others
After years of distrusting other people’s words and actions, it’s very hard to change. That’s why it’s important to take baby steps and try to see other people with an open mind and a realistic point of view. Understand that each and every one of us has something new to say or contribute to a conversation. Another person can always be a source of learning.
It’s hard to suddenly stop being a cynic but it’s always easier to see other people as a complete person. If we first see other people as people who can teach us a thing or two, we focus less on the negative and see things in a more realistic light.