Staying Positive

 Positivity, like any decent winning skill, requires three steps: first, a deeper insight rooted both in proven ancient wisdoms and latest science, then the experiential understanding in our heart, body and mind, and finally practice, practice, practice.   It takes a bit of courage and creativity to take the first few steps, and then reminders to add a bit more each day.  Luckily these small steps feed on themselves and accumulate, and before you know it, you’ll have something real to show for.

Neuroscience teaches us that negativity reduces creativity, and we fail to think of even the obviously good options.  Consistent negativity generates its own new stress and anxiety, on top of whatever the stressful situation has already churned up – spinning a negativity vortex.  Entire fields of psychology have started focusing on positivity, from Prof. Martin Selligman’s work, to www.positivepsychology.com, to Dr. Shirzad Chamine’s positive intelligence work, and many others.  Positivity energizes and opens possibilities.  Grumpiness depresses and shuts down ideas.  Complaining repels both people and solutions.

Virtually all ancient wisdoms, religions, and traditions have explored the concept of positivity, whether tied to faith or just simple humanity and keen observation of how nature works.  While some of the origin stories and archaic texts can be full of fury and gory details, the underlying message, however, is that positivity works.  Take for example this wisdom from a Native American woman leader:

“Everything on the earth has a purpose,
every disease an herb to cure it,
and every person a mission.
This is the Indian theory of existence.”
– Christine Quintasket, Salish (1888‐1936)

Bad things do happen, both individually and in our society, causing real pain and hurt and destruction.  Many hard things are happening right now – we’ve had shock, after shock, after shock, with COVID, the mass shootings, January 6, Ukraine, heatwaves, you name it.  Positivity is not a spin, or ignoring hard realities, or constantly parroting worn-our cheery phrases that insult our intelligence.  Frankly, blind positivity can be annoying, or even toxic – we all have those people in our lives – they are rarely genuine or useful.  Incisive insight into what really happened, with empathy for the hurt, and creative positive solutions that work for all is what the world needs now more than ever.

Positivity is attractive.  Positive people are on a mission and radiate a deeper understanding of nature and how life works: “I trust that everything is going to be right anyway – I might as well be nice, generous and gentle with myself and others, so we can together find those herbs that cure.”