The Dark Side Of Positivity

Disclaimer: This might be one of the bleakest article I've ever written.

By the end of the article, you'll learn about the dark side of positivity and how to overcome the delusion of always trying to be positive.

Everyone wants to be happy

If you ask anyone in the street, what positive trait they want to have? 97% of them want to be happy and you can't blame them.

In the age where any information you wish to find is right at our fingertips. Just a click away to find resources that wouldn't be accessible in the past.

We're at the age where humans thrive on information rather than the brute strength of the cavemen era and we should be thankful for that. But...

In every good thing, there's always a dark side to it. The increasing number of information shines the light to the world's dark past and recurring problems this world still face.

The Pessimism Of The Media

We might not find it as common as the media portrays, but the negative news always affects us in one way or another. From the way we view the world to the way, we treat others.

We try to run away to various media to get entertainment in a world filled with uncertainty. We know the media only gives us temporary pleasure.

It feels shallow, ungenuine. It makes life seems worthless.

But that's when Self Improvement comes in!

Self Improvement In The Digital Age

Self-improvement has been in society for years now with religion, lifestyle, etc.

Most of the self-improvement genre has a purpose to give you practical ways to live a positive life for you. It's a wholesome niche not to say the least.

Back in the day, people used to buy DVD or sign up on a webinar/course to learn ways for people to improve themselves.

Nowadays, we could learn about self-improvement in just a simple google search.

The global reach of the internet not only created its own place for getting resources but also creating communities inside its niche. In this case, the unhealthy people at the self-improvement community.

Self Improvement Addiction

I'm not saying that self-improvement is bad. What I'm saying is that people who are in this community tend to have a very bad addiction to self-improvement. I myself am one of them.

I remember having a whopping 161 GB filled with self-improvement courses ranging from improving your social life to improving your happiness in general. It's borderline insane!

You probably have this thinking too if you're one of the self-improvement community. That if you just keep on learning, you'll eventually fulfil your potential as a human being.

We learn all those stuff to be positive, to be happy. But I'm sorry to break it to you, that's not going happen.

The Dangers Of Being Positive

We try our best to be positive every time that we forget about the value of being negative.

Even at our darker moments, we like to think that there's some sort of hope.

We like to think there's something that'll make up for all the things you're going through at the end. Sometimes it does. Most of the time it doesn't.

Life is unfair and we try to make up for it by always thinking positive even though sometimes it leads you to places you'll regret later.

Positivity is just like any other addiction. It's not good when you take it too much, there must be a balance in your life. That's why you have to accept being negative.

Accepting The Negativity Of Life

You can't stop bad things from happening even if you'd like to try and that's ok. Because if the world is only filled with positive things. Ungrateful and unappreciative people will roam the face of the earth.

It might not be easy to accept the negativity in life but it's better than to accept being positive every time, lying to yourself that everything will be ok.

There are benefits of being positive but there are also benefits to being negative:

• You become more appreciative: When faced with a very bleak situation. Being positive usually lead us to focus on the positive side of things and it's good and all but when you accept the situation in a bad light. You appreciate the little things in life after the situation's all over.
• You become more peaceful: Accepting about the negative situation you're in, you sometimes get this unusual feeling of peace or gratitude in the midst of all the problem you're facing.
• It makes you more realistic: Sometimes, positivity leads you to do stupid things that you'll regret in the future. When faced in a negative situation, when you accept the bleak situation you're in. You act more realistically and do things that make more logical sense than the things you do when you're negative.

Conclusion

I'm not trying to say that being pessimistic/depressed is a good thing but a balance is needed to have a fulfilling life.

Positivity is good but too much of it will not help you in any other way but to give you a false sense of security.

So next time, when facing a difficult situation, accept the situation as it is instead of tricking your brain that everything is under control.