Negative experiences tend to sway our opinions. They imprint our memory far more than positive experiences, according to psychologists. We also have more negative emotions than positive ones.
Do you feel like every time you propose a new idea to your boss or colleague that it’s squashed? Chances are that your ideas are embraced far more often than you think. Yes, the negative experiences sting. Naturally, you don’t want to feel that sting often, or at all, but don’t let a few experiences carry more weight than they should. Use history as a guide—a full, objective history—not a revisionist history that’s weighted with negative emotions.