The one thing that helps break this cycle is gratitude. It reminds us of the things we become desensitized to on a daily basis. The things that really matter. The things that almost anyone can find joy in. The things that Gehrig chose to see in the face of death.
It’s not about irrational positivity or aimless hope. It’s about a more balanced view of what’s really going on in life. By nature, we focus more on the negative than the positive. The negative makes more noise, and it demands a disproportionate amount of attention.