on Live Write Thrive:

It happened in a lecture hall so quiet that even the sound of paper turning felt like an interruption. The year was 2001. The place: a modest university classroom in Pennsylvania. And the moment was the presentation of a now-famous study—Baumeister et al’s Bad is Stronger than Good.

For most writers, this idea isn’t new. We’ve felt it. A single negative review cuts deeper than five glowing ones. One harsh critique echoes louder than a long list of affirmations. But what we feel instinctively, neuroscience has confirmed: the brain is hardwired to respond more intensely to negative words. A single word—stupid, failure, worthless—can linger in someone’s mind for years.

In contrast, positive language travels a gentler path. It doesn’t shout. It whispers. But that whisper, if well-placed, can change everything. Consider the difference between noand not yet. One shuts a door. The other leaves it open. Swap sorry for thank you—”Sorry I’m late” becomes “Thank you for waiting”—and you shift the dynamic from shame to appreciation. One word is all it takes.