S4 Ep18: Why Do We Need More Genuine, Non-Toxic Positivity in the World?

The world needs more genuine, non-toxic positivity to combat the fear Whether we like it or not, we live in a fear-based society. All around us are messages aimed to keep us afraid. Why? This might come across as cynical, but I can’t disprove it: Because capitalism demands sales. One of the best ways to get people to buy goods and services is via fear. The best way to combat a fear-based society is with reason. Reason, tied to logic, is the antithesis of fear. That’s because reason often exposes fear for its bullshit. Genuine, non-toxic positivity versus toxic positivity The use of toxic positivity has made genuine, non-toxic positivity seem hard to distinguish. It causes many to automatically dismiss all positivity, genuine or otherwise. Neutrality doesn’t help anyone when all is said and done. Neutrality can’t combat negativity. Positivity, however, can. Genuine, non-toxic positivity. It’s a matter of choice in the face of negativity When bad things happen you’ll experience an immediate, visceral, automated reaction to it. That varies from person to person, and it takes more forms than this podcast is covering. After that initial reaction, however, you have a choice. Feed the negativity or feed the positivity. Certain happenings appear to have no positivity tied to them. That’s the nature of uncertainty. Yet they can teach you something, help you grow and evolve, and open you to make choices and decisions for change. That’s a positive, is it not? The challenge of outside influences People might see you choosing to move on from something via genuine, non-toxic positivity, and form an opinion. Then, they might share their opinion. It might run completely counter to what you’re doing. Whose life is It anyway? Nobody but you is in your head, heart, and soul. Ergo, there is nobody else who can think for you, feel for you, act for you, or intend for you. It’s all yours. What does genuine, non-toxic positivity look like? First and foremost, it does not apply to anyone other than you. You recognize and acknowledge the world can be an imperfect, illogical, even awful place. Bad things might be happening/have happened, and they’re not to be disregarded. Then, you practice mindfulness to be consciously aware of yourself. What this looks like is recognizing something has happened, but that either/and/or it’s a learning opportunity, a blessing in disguise, an unavoidable change, or a chance to start something new, change direction, and so on. This comes down to making choices and decisions for how you approach life here and now and then moving forward. Genuine, non-toxic positivity is working with potential and possibilities to live life on your terms and in your control. This week’s Applied Guidance for Mindfulness Tool: We’re going to use Gratitude to connect to positivity. Expressing gratitude always generates positivity. Genuine gratitude is never negative. It’s always a positive force in the world. At the end of the day, before you go to bed, for the next week, please write down 5-10 things you’re grateful for. When you write them down, write out, “I am so grateful for *insert tangible or intangible here*. Thank you!” After you write them out, read them out. As you read them, pause between each to feel the gratitude for them. This can be anything – big, small, silly, whatever. That means it can be sunshine, the purr of your cat, being able to tighten your belt more, a song, a person, breathing, or anything else you can imagine for which you can be grateful. After a week, examine what impact, if any, this is having for your overall attitude and life experience. Author Website Email Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok Blogs: titaniumdon.com and mjblehart.medium.com Cover artist Fe Mahoney: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TaliasInspirations