--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try not to focus on the negative…" description: "\"I try not to focus on the negative. That's not going to get me anywhere. I'm going to complain and get mad and it's still going to be the same.\" — Darr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/405/darren-elkins-9563_complain_i-try-not-to-focus-on-the-negative-that_1694968.jpg" --- # I try not to focus on the negative. That's not going to… ![“I try not to focus on the negative. That's not going to get me anywhere. I'm going to complain and get mad and it's still going to be the same.” quote by Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/405/darren-elkins-9563_complain_i-try-not-to-focus-on-the-negative-that_1694968.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/405/darren-elkins-9563_complain_i-try-not-to-focus-on-the-negative-that_1694968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/405/darren-elkins-9563_complain_i-try-not-to-focus-on-the-negative-that_1694968.jpg) > “I try not to focus on the negative. That's not going to get me anywhere. I'm going to complain and get mad and it's still going to be the same.” [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on negativity yields no progress; shifting attention to solutions fosters forward movement. **In simple terms:** Negativity hinders progress; focus on solutions. Key Takeaway Choose constructive thoughts over complaints. Themes mindset productivity emotional health Mood determined reflective Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - personal challenges - work stress - relationship conflicts Key Concepts cognitive reframing resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe a negative thought? - What actions follow a constructive mindset? A Different Perspective Negativity can be a coping mechanism for underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complain/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-negative-985326/) [Going Complain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-complain-719582/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Negative Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-going-302596/) [Same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/same/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) ## Related quotes > [I was doing what I love to do: play baseball. Not going to complain about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mccovey/i-was-doing-what-i-love-to-do-play-baseball-not-going-to-complain/) [Willie McCovey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mccovey/) > [Not everyone's going to love you or what you do. Someone's always going to complain about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-windsor/not-everyone-s-going-to-love-you-or-what-you-do-someone-s-always/) [Devon Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-windsor/) > [I'm not going to complain about striking out a couple more guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-fried/i-m-not-going-to-complain-about-striking-out-a-couple-more-guys/) [Max Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-fried/) > [I'm not going to complain to New Yorkers about working too hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elliot/i-m-not-going-to-complain-to-new-yorkers-about-working-too-hard/) [Ben Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elliot/) > [Denial of numerous problems can happen in any organization, and I don't mean this as flip or negative as it's going to sound, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lowney/denial-of-numerous-problems-can-happen-in-any-organization-and-i-don/) [Chris Lowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lowney/) > [My responsibility is leadership, and the minute I get negative, that is going to have an influence on my team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/my-responsibility-is-leadership-and-the-minute-i-get-negative-that-is/) [Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/) > [I don't want to walk in the middle. I want people to read what I write and feel strongly about it. If, at some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-don-t-want-to-walk-in-the-middle-i-want-people-to-read-what-i-write/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [You always have to remember that if you say something negative, it's going to come back to haunt you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-lee-miller/you-always-have-to-remember-that-if-you-say-something-negative-it-s/) [Abby Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-lee-miller/) > [Getting old is more than the negative that you are going to die but it is also the postive that you understand you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie/getting-old-is-more-than-the-negative-that-you-are-going-to-die-but/) [Morrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie/) > [“You need a negative charge and a positive one to get something moving. We've got the negative; we're going to find the positive if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/you-need-a-negative-charge-and-a-positive-one-to-get-something-moving/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [I am absolutely against positive thinking. You will be surprised that if you don't choose, if you remain in a choiceless awareness, your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/i-am-absolutely-against-positive-thinking-you-will-be-surprised-that/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It doesn't matter what happens to you. What matters is, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to complain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-tew/it-doesn-t-matter-what-happens-to-you-what-matters-is-what-are-you/) [Robert Tew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-tew/) > [Am I going to complain about being typecast as smart? I don't think so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha-tyler/am-i-going-to-complain-about-being-typecast-as-smart-i-don-t-think-so/) [Aisha Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha-tyler/) > [It's human nature that if you get 20 positive comments and one negative one, you're going to focus on the negative. We all do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/it-s-human-nature-that-if-you-get-20-positive-comments-and-one/) [Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/) > [That's typically what writers do; we just sit around complaining most of the time. And the better things are going, the more they complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/that-s-typically-what-writers-do-we-just-sit-around-complaining-most/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More by Darren Elkins > [I always stay in shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-always-stay-in-shape/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [Each fight I want to be better than I was the last fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/each-fight-i-want-to-be-better-than-i-was-the-last-fight/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I've been wrestling since I was 4, so it's more a thing that's just a part of me now. It's toughened me mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-ve-been-wrestling-since-i-was-4-so-it-s-more-a-thing-that-s-just-a/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I'm a hard worker and I get in there and no matter what, I train hard every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-m-a-hard-worker-and-i-get-in-there-and-no-matter-what-i-train-hard/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [If I let all the pressure get to me then I'm not going to fight the fight that I want to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/if-i-let-all-the-pressure-get-to-me-then-i-m-not-going-to-fight-the/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I mean, I prefer negative energy. That pumps me up a little bit more, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-mean-i-prefer-negative-energy-that-pumps-me-up-a-little-bit-more/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [Guys like Michael Johnson, they don't throw fake punches, they knock people out usually. But I take 'em; I take 'em well. And when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/guys-like-michael-johnson-they-don-t-throw-fake-punches-they-knock/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [You've got to be mentally tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/you-ve-got-to-be-mentally-tough/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I want to fight for the championship. That's my ultimate goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-want-to-fight-for-the-championship-that-s-my-ultimate-goal/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I go out there and I fight. I'm happy with whoever they give me. I'm just happy to be back in the octagon fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-go-out-there-and-i-fight-i-m-happy-with-whoever-they-give-me-i-m/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [When I was younger I could depend a little bit more on my athleticism and my strength and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/when-i-was-younger-i-could-depend-a-little-bit-more-on-my-athleticism/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [Obviously, all my losses are to the top guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/obviously-all-my-losses-are-to-the-top-guys/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I read books to keep my mind sharp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-read-books-to-keep-my-mind-sharp/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I have to change some of my training tactics and keep trying to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-have-to-change-some-of-my-training-tactics-and-keep-trying-to-get/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [I enjoy learning new things, working on different things, and just seeing what I can do with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-enjoy-learning-new-things-working-on-different-things-and-just/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) [Explore all 70 Darren Elkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) ## More Complain quotes > [I know life isnt fair but I still like to complain about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-life-isnt-fair-but-i-still-like-to-complain-about-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I hope I will not be typecast as a Bond girl for the rest of my life. I'm very proud of being a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-green/i-hope-i-will-not-be-typecast-as-a-bond-girl-for-the-rest-of-my-life/) [Eva Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-green/) > [Don't get anger, force yourself, complain others, waste time, thing much, compare yourself, except, sad, silent, stop thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayanthi-aj/don-t-get-anger-force-yourself-complain-others-waste-time-thing-much/) [Jayanthi AJ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayanthi-aj/) > [To complain is one thing but to be negative is another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/to-complain-is-one-thing-but-to-be-negative-is-another/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Don't complain about being overweight if you're not going to do anything about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-complain-about-being-overweight-if-you-re-not-going-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most restaurant people work much harder physically, on a daily basis, than most entertainers. Though most people in entertainment complain more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rosenthal/most-restaurant-people-work-much-harder-physically-on-a-daily-basis/) [Philip Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rosenthal/) > [Those who are content have enough; those that complain, have too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/those-who-are-content-have-enough-those-that-complain-have-too-much/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I look upon life as a gift from God. I did nothing to earn it. Now that the time is coming to give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/i-look-upon-life-as-a-gift-from-god-i-did-nothing-to-earn-it-now-that/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [At the end of the day I'll be able to keep everything that I really loved about my time with Disney. The friendships won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-boyce/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-ll-be-able-to-keep-everything-that-i-really/) [Cameron Boyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-boyce/) > [Complain and Compare leads to ungrateful living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mielya-saladdin/complain-and-compare-leads-to-ungrateful-living/) [Mielya Saladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mielya-saladdin/) > [I personally think we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/i-personally-think-we-developed-language-because-of-our-deep-inner/) [Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/) > [You should not complain, it's not attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-should-not-complain-it-s-not-attractive/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) [Browse all 856 Complain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try not to focus on the negative. 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