People who are perpetually positive are often characterized as Pollyannas, which implies they’re either clueless or in denial about the negative side of life. This simplification overlooks a very important exception. Rather than being naively optimistic, they could be aware of the shadow side and understand that it’s an inescapable and necessary fact of the law of polarity. Rather than being consumed by the heaviness of the darkness, these warriors are wise and skillful enough to hold both good and bad and, in spite of presence of suffering, keep their attention and disposition centered…
In the light.
Jarl and Steve
I have a friend who is like this. She is positive but I know fully aware of the negative side and “chooses ” to think positively. Or its in her genes. I am more anxiety/doomsday thinking and i wish i could be more like her. i keep reading your posts but short of reciting them in my sleep i always fall back to the negative side. of course its complicated by a family dynamics. competetive husband and my control issues steming from low confidence/self esteem… help. ?/
Hi Cathy, Thanks for your comment! My advice would be to keep acknowledging and feeling your feelings but also become hyper aware of the thoughts you cultivate. When I notice a stream of thoughts with a negative narrative going on in my head that doesn’t serve my well being, I begin repeating a mantra that goes: I’m sorry, forgive me, thank you, I love you. I say that over and over to keep myself from unconsciously and compulsively running the negative narrative. It’s an adaptation of an ancient Hawaiian healing technique called Ho’oponopono and it works really well, amazingly well.