Salespeople amuse me. As a former insurance salesman I was “programmed” to be positive in everything I did. There was simply no room for negative thoughts that downloaded to comments. In the end I left the profession but that didn’t mean I was negative, just realistic about it.
And that’s the message here now. Being positive has its limits. There is no doubt that being overall positive is far better than being negative but we don’t need to fool ourselves into a world of unrealistic expectations and goals. Being a positive person is more complex than good and bad. Let me explain.
A negative thinking person has a dim view of the world, half a cup empty than half full. Positive people can try to educate a negative person but the change must come from within. Some people need only a spark. After years of thinking negatively and knowing you are negative when the spark comes it can change your life in every conceivable way and in every moment. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe but it is a buoyancy that, once there, it is there forever. One never wants to go back to having a dim view of the world.
For me that moment came at 27yo. Google
Topic: 30 minutes can change your life- beyondblue
I’m now 61yo. After some decades as an energised thinker one thing I’ve had to grapple with is being realistic. Death hits us all whether it be a family member or friend. When we grieve its impossible to be positive about it. There can be token justifications like “he is no longer in pain” but we all know it just doesn’t cut it in terms of the massive loss to our lives.
The workplace. We can be motivated but when we are there is often the jealous co-worker that interprets your hard work for wanting promotion. Suddenly you have conflict or tension. It’s their problem! These workers aren’t team members, they don’t know you nor your intent, they are destructive and yes- negative. Leave the negative people to their own sad world because if you play their game their satisfaction comes when you take the bait.
The transformation from negative to positive is the best change you’ll ever carry out. It will mean your good days with a mental illness will be great, your bad days will still be bad but you will capitalise on the slightest positive event…like watching the sunrise.
Being positive doesn't equate to an easier way to rise above a down period but whereas you'll walk tall on the way out of it, being positive ...you'll run...
Being positive is almost essential.
Tony WK
