Is a positive mindset an essential key to happiness?
Most of us on a journey for success and happiness seek to surround ourselves with uplifting themes.
Notice, it only takes 60secs on your smartphone or the first 5 minutes in your local gym to be overloaded with expressions of positivity. Positive quotes on your latest lorna jane gear, instagram pages overflowing with mantras on how to tackle the day ahead with that “must have” positive mindset.
I can see how this positivity can be appealing and can appreciate what it offers, though there’s potential for an unseen downside.
This positivity has the ability to leave us with a “buzz”, but that constant feed also creates a false pretense, leaving individuals with a denial effect on challenges that may arise in their life. These challenges can consume a person’s emotions and rather than identifying the situation at hand, they choose to ignore their problem.
Not only do they not acknowledge the situation, they flood it with positivity and distractions. This will help only in the very short term but it will never be a life long solution, a positivity band aid is an easy way to think about this.
Through my own experiences and also working with dozens of people on a daily basis, I’m going to offer you an alternative path and even a solution to those trapped in this pattern.
In life there is constant cycles and necessary opposites that create balance.
Whether it’s a cycle of the seasons or opposites such as day and night. There will be things you enjoy or things you dislike about these But You can’t have one without the other, they are all necessary in creating balance and contrast in your life.
Just as if the sun was out 24hrs a day, would it even be called day without the contrast of night? What detrimental effects would take place from the absence of darkness?
To appreciate the sunlight you must recognize that night is necessary and holds potential.
Positivity is just the same.
If negative emotions ceased to exist you would never have the contrast that allows positivity to be enjoyed. Without this contrast, something that is identified as unique now becomes ‘The norm’.
Not only is it ok to be ‘not be ok’ at times but that it is necessary in holding opportunity so you can experience the great times to their full capacity.
Accept that emotions will arise without your consent or control and you will learn how to identify your emotions, finding reasoning behind them. Identify the place they have and will continue to have in your life and be accepting of that. Temporarily detach from your emotion to allow for clarity around your situation. Don’t let it consume you or become your identity, you are not your thoughts.
In short, attempt to accept the cycles, be proactive and seize the daylight, don’t get discouraged when the sun starts to set, nighttime is a necessity that allows for you to appreciate the sun rising again.
