I’ve noticed this about myself for years, and I really want to change it.
Whenever someone tells me something — even something small like “I saw this cool car today” or something positive that happened to them — instead of reacting with excitement or saying something supportive like “That’s awesome!”, I immediately respond with “Yeah, but…” or point out something negative, or compare it to something “better”.
It’s not that I want to bring people down. It just happens automatically, and I can see how it kills the mood or makes people feel like I’m dismissing them.
Has anyone else dealt with this?
Why do I do this psychologically, and how can I train myself to react in a more positive and supportive way?
Any practical tips or mindset shifts would be really appreciated.