Accentuate the Positive
Positivity and negativity exist simultaneously in our daily life. Like on a sphere, there is no up or down, left or right, front or back, but only a continuous surface. So, it is with our emotions. One moment we may feel happy and the next moment sad. We may be angry and at the same time feel love. Emotions aren't inherently good or bad; they're just energy in motion. It is our perception of these feelings that categorize them as such. When we label emotions as positive or negative, we are essentially judging them. This judgment can lead to emotions such as anger, resentment, and frustration. Alternatively, it can lead to emotions such as happiness, love, and compassion. The key is to simply observe our emotions without judgment.
It has been said that "the greatest enemy of happiness is not pain, but the anxiety about pain." We cannot be happy if we are constantly worried about being unhappy. We need to learn to accept that both positivity and negativity are a part of life. It's worth noting that like the weather, it’s constantly shifting. We can't control the weather, and we can't change our feelings; all we can do is be mindful of how react to them. All we can do is to try to be conscious of our feelings and accept them as they are.
Having a positive outlook in a world full of negativity is no easy feat, but I look at it like it is as essential as the air I breathe, the water I drink, and the food I eat. My reasons for remaining positive are essential to my well-being, and it's hard to maintain positivity throughout the day, and I have to trick my brain every so often, I smile a lot, not like some weirdo Joaquin Phoenix Joker thing, but smiling tricks the brain into thinking I'm happy, and when I do start to feel happy, my day gets better, and if my day gets better, I can help make someone else's day better. This is known as cognitive reframing, and it's a method of changing negative or self-defeating thought patterns by deliberately replacing them with more positive, constructive self-talk. You can see how it might be quite beneficial to be able to reframe circumstances and combat negative self-talk based on the definition. But I want to differentiate this from toxic positivity - which is the belief that no matter how dire a situation is, it can always be turned into something good because "thinking positive" will make it so. This is detrimental and not helpful, as it completely negates and diminishes the validity of your feelings. So, when I say positivity, I mean staying hopeful in every situation, not just glossing over the bad and pretending it doesn't exist but owning the negativity and bringing it forth into the light so that it can be dealt with.
I'm conscious of what I put in my body, I try and eat as healthily as possible, I stopped drinking alcohol to excess, I make sure I get enough water and exercise almost daily, all of which help improve my mood and positivity. I also take time for myself, even if it's just 10 minutes to read or have a cup of coffee in silence, and spend time writing, it's important to remember that I am human, and I need to nurture myself as well others. Positivity is like a muscle (yes, a gym reference) - the more I use it, the stronger it gets. And when I'm surrounded by negativity and darkness, positivity is like a light in that darkness. It can be a beacon on a mountaintop, showing me that there is hope and a way out when things are bleak.
It’s like ripples in a pond; your mood can be contagious. Positivity radiates outward and it sits on the surface, it has the potential to positively affect those around you. When you’re feeling optimistic, those emotions are not contained within you – they spread outward. When you smile at someone or show genuine interest in what they have to say, you are likely to get a smile and genuine interest in return. The more we positively interact with others, the more likely it is that they will respond positively back to us. So, one of the best things we can do for ourselves is work to support a positive attitude, the keyword is work, and it is hard work.
Positivity not only makes us happier people, but it also has some pretty amazing health benefits. Positivity has been linked with lower rates of anxiety and depression, better sleep, stronger immune systems, and longer life spans. It just makes sense – when I'm positive, my body responds positively by being positive, I'm not only doing something good for myself, but I am also helping those around me.
Positivity is key to creating a good life. It is the foundation on which I build my happiness, and it allows me to see the best in people and situations. It’s not naïve or rose-colored glasses; it’s simply choosing to see the good in life rather than only see the bad, positivity doesn’t mean that I ignore the negative aspects of life, but it does mean that I won't dwell on them and that I focus on what is going well. This is still difficult for me, but I am working on it every day.
I think one of the most important things to remember is that positivity is a choice. It’s not something that just happens – I have to actively choose to be positive. And sometimes, that choice is hard. But it’s worth it, because positivity has the power to change my life for the better. Positivity breeds more positivism. When I am positive, my outlook on life is generally good, and this affects how I view everything. Also, instead of looking at the big picture and getting overwhelmed, I take it one piece at a time, sometimes one hour at a time. Just keep swimming is what I tell myself often! Lastly, we all have our battles to fight that nobody knows about but us, so I focus on my own life and journey.
When I find myself in a negative situation or mindset, there are several things I do to turn it around and start thinking more positively again. It's not easy at first, but with a little bit of effort, it’s become second nature. One thing I do is to take a step back and look at the situation from a different perspective. Instead of focusing on all the negative aspects, try to see the positive side as well. Another thing that helps me is to remember that every day is a new day and a fresh start. No matter what happened yesterday, today is a new day with new possibilities. Lastly, I like to focus on all the things am grateful for in my life. When thinking about all the good things I have, it’s easier to push away the negative self talk. Does this always work? No, but it does more often than not.
Positivity is essential to my well-being for several reasons:
1) Negativity is detrimental to my health, if I allow myself to give in to negativity it will only lead to more negativity and a spiral of depression.
2) Negativity is not productive, if I am constantly focused on negative things, then I am not able to focus on the positive things in my life that I need to work on.
3) Negativity takes away from my happiness, if I am constantly dwelling on negative thoughts, then it takes away from the positive thoughts that I could be experiencing.
4) Negativity is contagious, if I am around negativity, it is more likely to rub off on me and make me feel negative as well. However, if I surround myself with positivity, it is more likely to rub off on me and make me feel positive as well
5) Negativity makes me feel bad, both mentally and physically. It's not a good feeling to be negative all the time and it's not something that I do not want to feel anymore.
6) Negativity is a waste of energy, negativity is not a productive emotion and it is not something that I want to spend my time on.
7) Negativity does not solve anything, all it does is create more problems, negative thinking will always find a problem with a solution, positive thinking will find the solution to a problem.
8) I do not want to be a negative person, it is not who I am and it is not something that I want to be known for.
9) It is hard to be positive, but positivity is something that I value and something that I want to keep in my life.
10) There are far too many positive things in life to focus on the negative, I choose to be positive instead.
11) Medication and therapy help but they are just tools in my tool belt, they are not the only things that I rely on. Acknowledgment, acceptance, self-love, and a positive support group are essential in the process.
12) It's okay to not be okay, but it's not okay to stay that way. I choose to fight for my happiness.
So, when negativity comes knocking at my door, I simply choose to not answer, I might take a look through the blinds, but I don't always let it in. Are there times it kicks in the door and rushes in? Of course, but I have gotten better at recognizing it and shutting it down and ushering it out as quickly as I can, it’s not a guest I want sitting around in my home for very long, like an unwelcome guest, after a few days, it just stinks.
So being positive is something that I choose, it is not easy, but it is worth it. Positivity makes me happier, more content and it just simply feels better than negativity. And, in the end, that is what is most important to me.
