Negativity is a biological inclination. Rejection, for example, used to be a real threat: being excluded from the tribe could mean death. Even though today that rejection has few real consequences, the body and mind still react with the same drama. Negative emotions are intense because the brain prioritizes them. And there’s a trap hidden in this pattern: by interpreting small events as serious threats, disproportionate emotional responses are triggered, such as anxiety, resentment, or despair.

Dopamine plays a key role in this dynamic. Originally designed to reward you for seeking food or reproducing, it can now be artificially released—via social media, video games, gambling, pornography… The reward system that once ensured survival is now easily manipulated and generates emotional addictions. The mind seeks momentary pleasure and avoids pain, even if that means repeating cycles that only increase suffering.

There’s also a persistent myth: “I’ll be happy when I achieve X.” A goal, an object, a relationship. But once you attain it, the emotion fades. This is hedonic adaptation: you get used to the new thing and return to your baseline emotional state. Even lottery winners or those who suffer tragedies eventually return to similar happiness levels as before. Only 10% of your happiness depends on external factors; 90% comes from your genetics and internal thoughts.