Positive thinkers elicit a surprising amount of negative energy. Some people get downright angry at their upbeat counterparts. Unfortunately, positive thinkers are woefully misunderstood. Let's tackle 5 common misconceptions about those sunny souls with a knack for turning lemons into lemonade.
Myth 1: Positive thinkers are happy all the time.
Reality: Everybody gets sad, angry, frustrated. Everybody. The difference is how long you choose to be sad, angry, or frustrated before you choose to move on. Positive thinkers don't linger. They learn the lesson, find the meaning and sail on to smoother waters.
Myth 2: Positive thinkers deny that negativity exists in the world.
Reality: Positive thinkers recognize that some people are bad and some situations are horrible. The are not naive or oblivious. The difference is their ability to see the rest of the picture. Positive thinkers stand at the buffet and say, "There's some food I don't like, but there's a lot of food I do like, so I won't go hungry." Then they fill their plates with the food they do like.
Myth 3: Positive thinkers enjoy suffering.
Reality: Every person faces tragedy. Positive thinkers don't throw ticker tape parades to celebrate their trauma. When bad things happen, positive thinkers get sad, angry, frustrated (see myth 1). Positive thinkers can say, "Life isn't perfect and I've suffered, but I will find a meaning in it." They might appreciate their setback or the challenge, but they certainly aren't reveling in their misfortune.
Myth 1: Positive thinkers are happy all the time.
Reality: Everybody gets sad, angry, frustrated. Everybody. The difference is how long you choose to be sad, angry, or frustrated before you choose to move on. Positive thinkers don't linger. They learn the lesson, find the meaning and sail on to smoother waters.
Myth 2: Positive thinkers deny that negativity exists in the world.
Reality: Positive thinkers recognize that some people are bad and some situations are horrible. The are not naive or oblivious. The difference is their ability to see the rest of the picture. Positive thinkers stand at the buffet and say, "There's some food I don't like, but there's a lot of food I do like, so I won't go hungry." Then they fill their plates with the food they do like.
Myth 3: Positive thinkers enjoy suffering.
Reality: Every person faces tragedy. Positive thinkers don't throw ticker tape parades to celebrate their trauma. When bad things happen, positive thinkers get sad, angry, frustrated (see myth 1). Positive thinkers can say, "Life isn't perfect and I've suffered, but I will find a meaning in it." They might appreciate their setback or the challenge, but they certainly aren't reveling in their misfortune.
Myth 4: Some people are born that way.
Reality: Everyone is born bright eyed and bushy tailed. Somewhere along the way we are taught that life is miserable and people will take advantage of our kindness. Anyone can reclaim their positive leanings. Seeing the world through optimistic eyes is a skill. Like any skill, the more you do it the better you get. Also, it's not like riding a bike. You can forget how to think positively, so it's important to practice daily.
Myth 5: I'm not negative, I'm realistic.
Reality: The battle cry of the Negative Nelly. Negativity might be their reality, but not everyone shares the same reality. Three people can look at the same situation, come to three different conclusions, and they can all be right. The world is open to interpretation. Being negative is realistic. Being positive is also realistic. The choice is yours.
Long story short, everybody can learn to be a positive thinker. I am positive of that.
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