The exact opposite of magnification is minimization.  Minimization is taking real problems and telling yourself they are insignificant.  Unfortunately you can only minimize (or ignore) your problems and sweep them under the rug for so long.

And when people try to minimize your pain, they are doing you a disservice. And when you try to minimize your own pain, you are doing yourself a disservice. Don’t do that. The truth is that it hurts because it’s real. It hurts because it mattered. And that’s an important thing to acknowledge yourself. But that doesn’t mean it won’t end, it won’t get better. Because it will. -John Green

The Mayo Clinic says some cases, a little denial can be a good thing. Being in denial for a short period can be a healthy coping mechanism, giving you time to adjust to a painful or stressful issue. It might also be a precursor to making some sort of change in your life. Still, denial has a dark side. Being in denial for too long can prevent you from effectively dealing with issues that require action, such as a health crisis or a financial situation.

Understanding denial and its purpose

Refusing to acknowledge that something’s wrong is a way of coping with emotional conflict, stress, painful thoughts, threatening information and anxiety.

When you’re in denial, you:

Refuse to acknowledge a stressful problem or situation

Avoid facing the facts of the situation

Minimize the consequences of the situation

Nobody likes to be on the receiving end in a relationship where you feel minimized.  When we’re told to forget about it or don’t worry about it.  But what does it do to you when you’re the minimizer.

“Don’t make mountains out of molehills”, sure that’s magnifying the situation, but when you minimize you’re in effect saying “it’s not important enough for me to pay attention to”.  That’s your prerogative.  But what’s not within your control is how people respond to this.

Your creditors simply don’t like being put off.

The people you have relationships with, don’t like to feel you consider whatever they have to say or do unimportant.

Your car isn’t going to operate smoothly for very long, if you minimize the necessity for regular maintenance.

The problem with minimization doesn’t really kick in until all that you’ve been sweeping under the rug, trips you up and you find yourself laying flat on your face in a dirty rug.