What is positive thought
Louise Hay, mother of positive thought, defines this current of thought as a method aimed at achieving psychophysical well -being through a constant Mind training to positivity.
The goal of positive thought is therefore to replace negative thought patterns with other, more positive and optimistic thoughts.
The method consists in the repetition of sentences and statements relating to events or characteristics that the individual wants. These sentences would be intended to “re-program” the mind towards a more optimistic dimension.
Difference with positive psychology
Positive thought draws its origins from a new age culture and is not to be confused with the current of positive psychology. The latter, in fact, represents a theoretical and application branch of the psychology that deals with the well -being and quality of life of the individual.
It acts through the analysis and any modification of the psychological, social and physical indicators who can contribute to the perception of subjective well -being.
Unlike positive psychology, moreover, the doctrine of positive thought He has never produced scientific studies that demonstrated the beneficial impact of this method.
Despite the lack of scientific data that confirm the usefulness of positive thought, this doctrine has taken a lot of foot in recent decades. Social networks have undoubtedly contributed to this advance.
The cultural and social evolution that sees us increasingly connected to the world through the sharing platformsin fact, frequently proposes a distorted image of the life of others. The tendency to share and at times to flaunt images and content aimed at showing one unrealistically happy lifecutting suffering and discomfort out, contributes to creating a reference model which, in real life, is simply unattainable.
In this regard, psychologist Susan David speaks of a progressive “Dmoral over“Towards being and showing themselves positive and happy.
The negative aspects of “excessive positivity”
On the one hand it is certainly true that thinking in optimistic terms can help individuals feel better and live more serenely. On the other, however, there are evidence that the rigid adhesion to a doctrine of positivity can actually have unexpected implications on the well -being of the individual.
In this regard, Lukin (2019) talks about Toxic Positivitythat is, of a social trend, increasingly pressing, a consider positive thought as the only correct and healthy way of living life.
Toxic positivity leads the individual to recognize and validate only emotions and positive thoughts. The negative moods and suffering instead tend to be refused and disabled.
As numerous scientific evidence demonstrates, however, the avoidance and active suppression of certain internal or external stimuli, in reality, does nothing but increase the salience of the stimuli themselves.
To experience this phenomenon, it is sufficient that the reader tries, for the next thirty seconds, to follow this simple instruction: “Avoid looking at all black things around you“.
What do we notice? Exactly … the mind, and consequently the gaze, automatically select dark objects in the environment, with the paradoxical objective, not to pay attention to it.
The avoidance of negative emotions and thoughts
The same phenomenon occurs when avoidance or suppression They concern internal content such as thoughts, mental images or emotions.
How many times, in a moment of tension and anxiety we have been told by someone “Come on, don’t think about it, relax! “? Surely many. How many times this instruction has actually allowed us to lower the tension? Probably none. How many times, however, this sentence has increased our level of anxiety? Probably often.
This happens since, when we are given this type of paradoxical education, our brain automatically selects the information or stimulus in question, with the aim of avoiding it. By doing this, however, the stimulus to be avoided ends up becoming even more salient.
What happens, therefore, when we try a strive to control our emotions and our thoughts? Paradoxically, just those internal states that we try to control end up obtaining greater careful salience. On long distances, therefore, to impose itself not to experience negative emotions risks increasing the sadness or concern we try to avoid.
Beliefs about the control of thoughts and emotions
Then there is a further negative aspect linked to the principles of positive thought: the irrational belief that it is possible to exercise active control over our emotions and thoughts. This leads the individual to take on a self-receiving perspective.
When, as is natural it is, the person fails to control, in fact a dangerous spiral is created. Starting from an unpleasant but physiological emotional state, the individual, convinced that it is right and possible to control this state, uses strategies that actually increase the salience of negative emotion.
Shortly thereafter, realizing that he cannot change his internal state, he adds a further altitude of guilt and inadequacy.
Rationality and acceptance as a compromise for well -being
If on the one hand an excessively pessimistic attitude is not useful and, on the other, as we have seen, it is not even a blindly optimistic position. So what is the best way to face the problems of life?
As in many things, perhaps the answer lies in the right way. And it is precisely in this perspective of compromise that two fundamental principles come into play: rationality and acceptance.
Referring to the basic principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, we can understand rationality as the ability to see and, consequently, to face problems in a realistic way.
In fact, thinking about a problem, in fact, allows you to not catastrophise it without however falling into its devaluation or, even, in the denial of its existence.
It is also important to remember that it is in the natural state of things that our life experiences generate in us of emotional reactions and that these, sometimes, can also be painful.
As we have seen, the attempt to control emotions not only in most cases is not useful but often proves to be harmful.
Emotions are part of this world and, from an evolutionary point of view, take on a fundamental role in guiding our actions and guaranteeing us survival. In fact, they allow you to regulate our behavior by directing it to the implementation of the answers most appropriate to the solution of the problems.
Recognize and accept emotions, instead of avoiding or suppressing themIt is therefore the best strategy to guide our body towards the well-being and perception of self-effectiveness.
Bibliography
- Hay, LL (2009). You can heal your life. Readhowyouwant. com.
- Lukin, K. (2019). Toxic Positivity: Don’t Always Look On The Bright Side. Psychol. TODAY.
