The Paradox of Trying to Be Positive
Briefly

The article discusses how enforced positivity often serves as a moral standard, compelling individuals to hide their true feelings, which leads to emotional disconnection. Despite the value in finding solutions, skewing emotional acknowledgment towards positivity can lead to denial. Emotions provide crucial information, similar to car warning lights, and ignoring them complicates our well-being. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio's "somatic marker hypothesis" indicates that our feelings influence decision-making, establishing that confronting rather than bypassing discomfort is essential for authentic emotional health.
Positivity has become a moral code where expressing genuine emotions is often suppressed, leading to a disconnect with our true selves and others.
When we rush to neutralise feelings with forced positivity, we miss the opportunity to understand ourselves more deeply and the messages our emotions convey.
Emotions, while messy, are not just burdens; they are vital signals that help us navigate life, akin to warning lights on a car's dashboard.
Emotional suppression doesn't merely affect our mood; it has physiological repercussions, underscoring the importance of emotional authenticity for overall health.
Read at Psychology Today
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