topic Negatives to positives in Staying well

Negatives to positives

white knight — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 09:51:50 GMT

Much has been written about changing the processes of how we think.

sadly thise needing such change are not the ones seeking it, it is often their friends/family that notice they are becoming annoying.

Why annoying? Because when you are a positive person you have no other way of existing. Furthermore a negative thinker, in order to change needs change from within, they rarely change from others recommendations, sadly.

Such inner change is a journey within itself. That journey doesnt happen overnight, it takes a process

Acknowledgement
Learning what being positive involves
Implementing changes
Returning to positive thoughts and actions when you revert back
Solidifying your new way of thinking.

The exception is allowing for mental illness. MI will stamp upon positive thoughts, override it and you'll feel you are no longer positive. In such a situation wait for the right time to recover before implementing positive thought processes. Google

Beyondblue Topic the timing of motivation

Once you become a positive thinker the world is your oyster. Nothing can stop your progress.

Beyondblue Topic 30 minutes can change your life

Good luck

TonyWK

Negatives to positives

quirkywords — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 10:16:52 GMT

Tony

thanks for this thread.

While it is good to be positive , I think there are times when we have reason to be sad,

upset and angry and can’t be positive all the time.

I think it is about a balance , being able to feel,our emotions but not dwell on them.

Thank Tony

Quirky

Negatives to positives

Unbeliever — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 14:06:17 GMT

Just like how many people can be negative in ways that have no association or relation to reality whatsoever (either on an individual personal level or on a large level)...

So can many people be positive in ways that have no association or relation to reality whatsoever.

And both of these mentalities have had excessively negative impacts thoughout history on the wellbeing of many on this planet either via indifference, refusal to acknowledge the realities of what is happening until it is far to late... or via direct actions influenced by their fantasies of beliefs.

This cannot be a black and white perspective at all... it exists in many shades of grey.

Negatives to positives

white knight — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:40:37 GMT

Hi Quirky

I strongly think mental illness has exceptions. We cannot control or bipolar downs and hypomanic ups. Both have overall negative impact on our and others lives. However, when down for example, in a depressive slump even though we find it hard to break out of that mood, when the door opens to recovery I find I can use my positive mind at that time to bounce back, 3 times faster and more enthusiastic than if I didn't have a positive attitude.

Hi Unbeliever

I found your post a bit too confusing for me to digest fully.

I was among some sales people once and found their (and particularly the manager) unrealistic with their positivity. This fake motivation to sell insurance was so over the top I left the profession. Was I negative? or was I realistic? I think I was positive towards finding a more suitable career path.

Those "shades of grey" exist even though one can be positive. But my point of the thread is that some people think and talk negatively all the time, forever criticizing others or organisations every time you meet them. I feel sorry for them, their unhappiness is clear.

TonyWK

Negatives to positives

Doolhof — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 04:10:28 GMT

Hi Tony and All,

I wonder if some people are even aware they are negative all of the time. The way they think and present themselves through life has become their identity. It may be normal for them therefore so they see no need to change or may have no idea how to change.

Negativity can become a habit, or it could be due to a depression that is hard to work through, a lack of hope, feeling useless, like life is purposeless and has no meaning. When we reach such a low point it can be hard to find any kind of positivity.

In those situations I need people to stand by me and be supportive. I don't need people to tell me I can discount all my negative thoughts and be positive all of the time. Encouragement and acknowledgement works better for me than being told to pull my socks up and get on with it.

I feel very happy for all who are able to find positives when the negatives hit hard.

Cheers from Dools

Negatives to positives

white knight — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 05:49:00 GMT

Hi Dools

Yes being measured in positivity is needed or it becomes false positivity beyond a point.

Take depression, say newly diagnosed. It is unrealistic to aim for a cure but realistic to aim to introduce positive motivation each time you begin to recover from a depressed cycle. It is wasting energy and false hope to recover before you beging to emerge from such cycle.

TonyWK

Negatives to positives

Mary S1 — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 12:13:41 GMT

The idea of changing your mental script from negative to positive does not attack the kernel of the problem which is survival and basic functioning. Positive affirmations have their place but not in addressing the kind of depression that has a stranglehold on you.

Negatives to positives

blondguy — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 12:45:16 GMT

Hello TonyWK

I understand where you are coming from (and thankyou for another great thread topic too!)

Just from my own experience with 35 years of this (expletive) depressive condition I had no idea that it required patience......determination....and a strong focus to heal using all the counsel I could get......

So.....I wasted 15 years of my life thinking I could self heal which was pointless

A mental illness is similar to have been in a serious car accident where severe injuries has resulted....There are medications.....frequent physiotherapy/counseling/therapy and understanding that it may take a long time to find some peace

'Acceptance' of a mental health condition is the first step to having some peace in our lives whilst we recover

You mentioned "It is unrealistic to aim for a cure but realistic to aim to introduce positive motivation each time you begin to recover from a depressed cycle" In my humble opinion you are spot on

Thanks again for the realistic and helpful thread topic TonyWK

Paul

Negatives to positives

white knight — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 02:06:06 GMT

Thankyou Paul

Re: "A mental illness is similar to have been in a serious car accident where severe injuries has resulted"

Oh, so true and the fact remains that not only do people without a mental health issue not realise this seriousness....we often take years ourselves to accept it and we don't ever seem to accept how serious our own conditions are. That puts us way behind and your wasted 15 years is a prime example.

We are limited as to what we can do but if we try really hard and introduce positive motivation and implement it at the ideal time its the best form of rebound.

TonyWK

Negatives to positives

blondguy — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 12:10:49 GMT

Hi TonyWK

I was a dill and tried to fight my mental illness for many years....unfortunately....I never understood what you have just mentioned above...."we often take years ourselves to accept it and we don't ever seem to accept how serious our own conditions are"

You do have an innate gift where 'clarity' and the written word is concerned. Thank-you for helping me out simplifying what I was trying to say Tony. I think that without adjusting our negatives into positives....the road to recovery will be harder (and longer) than it needs to be

Paul

Negatives to positives

white knight — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 13:34:44 GMT

Hi Paul

Thankyou for your encouraging and constructive comments.

You have acknowledged many things and you are parallel in my beliefs that any extra 1% we can achieve in assisting us in our battles is a bonus.

Turning negative thoughts or attitudes into positive ones do help. They might not counter the core of ones mental illness but one cannot reasonably deny that every little bit helps.

Thanks again.

TonyWK

Negatives to positives

geoff — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 14:18:18 GMT

Hi Mary SI, if you believe within yourself, that's totally in yourself then positive thoughts are going to be effective.

Geoff.

Negatives to positives

white knight — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 12:53:14 GMT

Geoff,

Correct, take the challenges of olympians.

Kathy Watt in I think 1992 Olympics said her fighting instinct got her the Gold. She was trained to get in front by giving 100%. Then even though in front she gave an extra 10% to get further ahead, then another 10% . They couldnt catch her.

Without positive motivation that is not possible.

TonyWK

Negatives to positives

JessF — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 21:28:13 GMT

Mary S1 said:The idea of changing your mental script from negative to positive does not attack the kernel of the problem which is survival and basic functioning. Positive affirmations have their place but not in addressing the kind of depression that has a stranglehold on you.

Hello Mary, I agree that being positive for the sake of it is not always helpful. For example, you've had a serious injury and likely may never walk again, and you're feeling understandably depressed about it. To think "positive" in this situation, "maybe there'll be a miracle and my legs will be fixed" would not be at all helpful.

I think perhaps another term that could be used here is "positive realism". Depression (and anxiety too) can lead us to always putting the worst possible, doom laden slant on things, and prevent us from seeing what other options we might have for changing our lives.

I have found in my life that the deeper my depression is, the deeper I need to go to figure out why I am feeling so hopeless and helpless. How has my life come to a point where I feel out of options, painted into a corner, that I have no sense of personal agency?

Flipping the script from negative to positive involves seeing the opportunity in life every single day, even when things are at their lowest. Can't get out of bed? The negative thought is, why bother? The positive thought is, because it might just make me feel even 1% better than I do now.

I don't believe thinking positive is about telling yourself the sky is green when it's blue. It's about realistic possibility, and understanding that you always have options; even if they are difficult ones.

Negatives to positives

Guest_093 — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 10:01:15 GMT

hi everyone shame i have not found this thread before now but i did and i am so very interested and enthralled with the subject as i am involved with 'beyond blue' and found it so helpful for me but the thing is how do i find the above topic the timing of motivation through beyond blue site please, still going through the cycle of inner change and i believe i am just about there lol and I do love oysters(joke). Enjoy your night everyone Spitfire1

Negatives to positives

white knight — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 11:40:23 GMT

Hi Spitfire

You can google

Beyondblue Topic the timing of motivation

Use the search bar at the top of this page

Timing of motivation

Negatives to positives

blondguy — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 10:29:20 GMT

Hi TonyWK

just for my own depression/anxiety......The day I stop noticing a gorgeous sunset or my roses.....is a day that I will re-read this thread

I hope that made some sense

Paul

Negatives to positives

white knight — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:46:08 GMT

Hi Paul,

Yes, stimulation is invaluable.

Sunsets? Oh yes. You might have noticed my fav spiritual leader Maharaji Prem Rawat has a video on sunsets. Just google it

He once said :"everyone claims they have seen a sunset. But a sunset lasts 2 hours...now, how many of you have seen a sun set? You climb a hill, sit, listen to the birds and feel the heat on your face. It's free and it is beautiful"

Keeping ourselves grounded to what is important. ..

TonyWK