Don T Worry Be Gloomy Summary

Living long, healthy lives is a massive focus of many Americans today, while on the contrary, focusing on happiness does not truly bring happiness to one 's life. Experiencing other emotions such as sadness, fear, and anger are as important in life as happiness. In the article “Don’t Worry, Be Gloomy” author Susan David states, “While it is certainly not healthy to constantly stew in negative emotions, there are some positive things that sadness, anger, guilt or fear can do” (126). David gives five reasons bad news can be good news: Helps form arguments; Improves memory; Encourages perseverance; Ups generosity; and Boosts ability to reason. These five reasons will further one 's knowledge on how good news and bad news truly affects himself

In the article “Don’t Worry, Be Gloomy,” David claims that the first reason bad news could be good news is that it helps form arguments. “You are more likely to use concrete and tangible information, be more attuned to the situation at hand and be less pron to make judgement errors...” (126). David’s statement reveals that a person in a bad mood is more likely to be a more impactful writer and speaker. When one is in a “everything is awesome!” mood, he or she are far more likely to resort to cliches and jump to conclusions, but when one is in a so-called negative state of mind, he or she is less likely to rely on brisk conclusions and pay more attention to subtle details that matter (David

Both authors offer useful information that can explain why sadness has a purpose. David observes that when one is already in a good mood, why should he or she push to become better when he or she is already satisfied with one’s self. That is the problem with many Americans today, they are on the search for happiness when happiness can often hinder his or her capability to accomplish his or her main goal (Begley