Why do negative comments stay with me over positive ones?

[letitgogogo]

I've recently lost weight, have a healthy bmi, on the lower end but very happy with my weight/shape. I would actually like to build muscle so wouldn't mind if i gained weight but also quite content as it is.

Over the week I've had 6 compliments but then 1 negative comment about my weight, why does the negative one go around and round my head!!! I need to let it go and not care what people think but now i feel very self conscious

Aw, well done on the weight loss. It’s human nature to focus on the bad comment. I still remember a comment about my appearance someone made in 1995, and another in about 1997 Of course, I can’t specifically remember any of the good comments!

Generally in life i do this. If someone pays me 9 compliments on my work and 1 criticism.
I hold on to the criticism and torture myself with it for weeks. Its like the positive stuff was never even uttered!

Sadly i think its quite common. So don't beat yourself up over it. Try to change it. But don't punish yourself.

Isn't there some advice that we need at least 5 compliments to offset any negative comment so it must be common to let the harsh comment become the centre of our thoughts. Maybe realising that most people are affected like that might help. You sound fab so try and pass the good comments around your mind.

I think most people do the same.
I wish I had a lovely answer about how to focus on the positives but I find it hard too.
I think you really have to work hard on being more positive in the way you think in order to make changes, and that can be hard if you've spent years focussing on the negatives.

Because your critical inner voice agrees :-/
Or it agrees when it's feeling down

Thanks, at least I know I'm not alone! The comment was only made this evening so hopefully I'll have forgotten about it by the morning. I'm going to concentrate on the compliments, one of which was someone mentioning to my DH that I seemed a lot more confident and happy (which I am)