Still more on positive outlook
If positive outlook (not positive thinking) is the better way to achieve a healthy state of mind, or to help us realize certain goals, then what should we do to achieve a positive outlook to begin with?
Before we answer the question, let us examine first the ways upon which positive thinking and positive outlook differs in terms of the mechanics employed in the conditioning of the mind.
Positive thinking simply asks you to believe that “I can do it.” It may appear harmless and so easy to do, but deep inside you, you are in conflict with yourself because your sense of reason sends a contrasting interpretation of the situation and that your powers are not enough to accomplish a task before you. In other words, positive thinking pushes the mind to do something on the account of “faith” rather than mental deliberation.
Positivity or positive outlook, on the other hand, allows for mental processing – combining both “faith and reason” to arrive at a mental state that’s prepared to do a task, attain some goals or even recover from stress or trauma. So how does this work? How do we combine faith and reason? What are the processes involved in positivity or positive outlook?
Dr. Fredrickson’s research suggests that we need to improve our “positivity ratio,” that is, generate more positive feelings than negative feelings. Wait, this is not about trying to feel that you’re superman all the time. Positivity is an accumulation of positive emotions (more than negative emotions) so you have a reason to move closer to your goals. Positive outlook, therefore, is an emotional state, which means we need to be “emotionally excited” all the time to get us to our goals.
“Individuals with a higher ratio of positive to negative emotions tend to have more successful life outcomes” according to her research.
“Experiencing positive emotions broadens people's minds and builds their resourcefulness in ways that help them become more resilient to adversity and effortlessly achieve what they once could only imagine. With Positivity, you’ll learn to see new possibilities, bounce back from setbacks, connect with others, and become the best version of yourself.”
Unlike positive thinking, which borders on mysticism and fanaticism (like those promoted as “laws” of success and attraction), positivity is a practical mental discipline that one can apply in work, business and health-related issues. The beauty of positive outlook over positive thinking is its simplicity.
Dr. Fredrickson explains that we only need to remember those positive experiences. Those positive experiences can be your first date, your child’s first words, the fun you had the past Christmases and many other happy moments you can recall.
And since positivity is a mental discipline, it does not mean that you just have to be that happy dude like Mr. Bean all the time. Dr. Fredrickson says that while “Evidence is thus stronger now than it was in 2005 that positive emotions play a unique role in maintaining and promoting flourishing mental health. This does not mean, however, that more is always better. Indeed, evidence has also mounted to support the ancient wisdom that people can get “too much of a good thing,” experiencing a downturn in good outcomes with disproportionate levels of positive emotion.”
Dr. Fredrickson furthers that to achieve a flourishing life, one has to have a positive ratio of 3-to-1. Meaning you should have a little over positive emotions than negative emotions. She has a website which guides you through achieving a good positive ratio on a daily basis with an easy to use tool in that website or may visit http://www.positivityratio.com.
If you want to immerse in the science involved in positive psychology, you may grab a copy of her book online via Amazon.com entitled Positivity. In this book she reveals how the stunning new scientific discoveries about this powerful though undervalued state of mind can enhance your relationships, improve your health, relieve depression, and broaden your mind.
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