Why is it so easy to remember bad times, but not the happy ones?
85255
Hopefully, because there are so many happy times that they don't stand out :)
566842
Bad moments, like good ones, tend to be grouped together.\n\n       --Edna O’Brien\n\n   Rough times may be pouring in on us at the moment, and they may seem unending.  Difficulties appear to attract more difficulties, problems with loved ones, problems at work, problems with our appearance.  A negative attitude, something that we all struggle with at times (some of us more than others), is the culprit.\n\n   When the good times come, as they always do, they are accompanied by a positive attitude.  We do find what we look for.\n\n   Our attitude is crucial.  It determines our experiences.  A trying situation can be tolerated with relative ease when we have a positive, trusting attitude.  We forget, generally, that we have an inner source of strength to meet every situation.  We forget the simple truth—all is well, at this moment, and at every moment.  When the moments feel good, our presence is light, cheery.  When the moments are heavy, so are we.
242330
I believe there are several possible explanations for this.  Bad things do not happen to everyone for the same reason.  In one case, it may be a way that God is strengthening the person, or in another, it may be atonement for past karma, or it may be a lesson.  It could be so many different things, and I believe it is important to never point a finger at anyone who is suffering and say, "You've brought this on yourself."  Perhaps they did, but perhaps they didn't.  In any individual case, I don't think we really know.\n\nThere is one major issue here, and that is how do we define "Bad things"?  I have come to believe that events in themselves are neutral.  It is only our interpretation of those events that makes them "good" or "bad."  We can learn a skill of reframing, which is to change our thinking about a matter.  We can choose how we are going to evaluate the event.  Our gut reaction may be to think of it as bad, but you do not have to let the reaction rule over you.  You can find positive ways to look at it.  Of course, sometimes this is easy, and other times, extremely difficult, or maybe even nearly impossible.  But we can find ways of coping nonetheless.\n\nMy father was drafted to go to Vietnam, and before leaving, he took a last ride on his motorcycle.  He wrecked and broke his leg!  This actually prevented him from having to go to Vietnam.  Everytime I see a Vietnam veteran who is struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, I praise God that my dad wrecked that day!\n\nSo, what has helped me more than anything is to say to myself a little Hebrew phrase I learned, "Gam zu letovah."  This means, "This too is for good."  And I have found this to be very good to say.  Even over the little things!  I break a fingernail, and I say, "Gam Zu Letovah."  And if you say this whenever some little annoyance happens, instead of cussing or huffing, you'll be amazed at the end of the day how much better you will feel.\n\n;)
334226
They wont' be happier but they'll have an easier time being sad.  Think about it.  When you're having difficult times, it's harder when you have to also worry about money.  But if you don't have to worry about money, you just have to worry about whatever hard time you're going through.  Plus, while you're depressed you have money to hire other people to take care of the kids and clean the house.  Money doesn't make people happier but it most certainly makes life easier!
471258
No, it's not better at all. Sometimes what you forget pops up out of the blue and you will feel miserable. While remembering makes you getting used to the fact that you have to live with it. Might be hard at the beginning but at the end it's better to accept it rather neglect it and keep it in a hidden drawer of your brain.\nAlways better to solve our issues then put it aside...\ngood luck!
766687
You've obviously been hurt so often, you find being happy is not worth the effort. You don't HATE being happy, you just find it very hard to be upbeat when life is not being good to you.
816253
In emergencies I work better under stress and remember to t do things I thought I had forgotten (i.e. CPR).  Stress interferes when I am given a deadline on a major project at work.\n\nLately I have felt overwhelmed at home, but otherwise happy.\n\nMoods cause us to remember situations in a bad or good light... a mood determines how something is remembered, as well as the expected outcome.
1003726
Uh...yes but only because the good times are so good. I am lucky to never have had truly bad times. Sure I've been cheated on, had rocks thrown at me, been told my voice sounds like I've swallowed a vibrator. But I'd have that happen a thousand times over instead of some tragedy befalling one of my loved ones. I wish I was joking about all that crap that's happened to me, but it's all true...
629906
I think sometimes good people are good because bad stuff happens to them. I am one of those people. At times, I think I may be the unluckiest person in the world, however, I've learned some awesome lessons in every one of them. It doesn't get me down, I keep a positive attitude. Don't get me wrong though, it does suck.
282013
life is full of miseries so that we learn lessons from them, after all if life wasn't full of miseries how special would happiness really be..? you can live a happy life by being optimistic and not dwelling on difficult situations but rather finding solutions and keeping your head up high
668181
No, not at all. Laughter is one of the best cures and remembering something funny from the past is quiet normal, even if you are all by yourself. Its always good to have a chuckle everynow and then, even if its something about yourself. Remembering something that you might have done differently or some situation and laughin at how stupid you acted/behaved then and what you would have done now, totaly normal or just call me crazy then, since i do it too. :P
151428
Yes. I think it's because we were in similar-looking places or situtations in previous times and it's like that thing when you can't think of a word and it's just on the tip of your tongue. The memory's there, it's just a little screwed up. I don't think it has to do w/ previous lives
100588
I agree no less. Life is terribly hard. Think positively is a good idea. Just look at the mirror and give yourself a nice smile that you can have a real smile and happiness on yourself oneday. ;) Good wish to all of hard life people.
209115
It is easy, every time something bad happened, I always told myself, that there's something that I have to learn. that God want me to get this kind of experience to help me deal with something more complex in the future. The positive thinks is something that you must have it in yourself.
485218
Except for horrible catastrophes, the negative in most situations will have a positive. You just have to look for it. It's like any kind of stress...what is stressful for one person is stimulating for another. It's all a matter of perspective.\n\nIt's easy to say, "This is too hard." But the people who choose to embrace their life experiences...even the bad ones... instead of allowing themselves to become a victim to their situation come out stronger and ready to face the world on it's own terms.\n\nYOU have the power to accept or reject negativity. Maybe you've heard the old saying, "What if two countries decided to have a war and no one came?" What that means is, it takes two to have a conflict. It's your choice to participate, but the choice may involve making hard decisions like quitting a job or leaving home or distancing yourself from a friend or family member or at the very least leaving the immediate area of the negativity when things get rough...but you do have control. You can choose not to play the negative game if you want to.
402529
that's the one thing that sucks about life. it seems when things go at it's best something horrible follows.  i hate to be a negative person because i usually am not...but when good things happen too often in my life...i wonder what's going to mess it up.\nother than that i just try to think positive ....and one good thing is when bad things do happen..things eventually work out.
395990
The most difficult years are those when you look upon yourself and discover that you hurt the ones you loved, the most difficult times are those when you learn nothing, but sink more into the abyss of abnormality and oblivion, showing no mercy to yourself and to your loved ones...\nThe good years are when you can take a deep breath, without feeling a slight pain or feel sorry for it... :)