Read on Twitter
Let’s talk about positive thinking, and why it’s such a bad idea: especially at the moment.
You’ve probably seen your fair share of people posting that “thinking positive” is the key to getting through this Rāhui. It isn’t, and it may even be dangerous.
1/n
You’ve probably seen your fair share of people posting that “thinking positive” is the key to getting through this Rāhui. It isn’t, and it may even be dangerous.
1/n
What most people mean by positive thinking, is that we force or train ourselves to focus on the “positive” so as to generate non-distressing emotions. “Negative” thoughts are a problem to be eliminated, which is a problem when there is something to be distressed about. Why?
2/n
2/n
Because it means that we have to engage in self-invalidation - stacking and minimising the very real emotions we are feeling - positive, negative or otherwise.
The main problem with invalidation is it doesn’t work: it makes the feelings worse.
3/n
The main problem with invalidation is it doesn’t work: it makes the feelings worse.
3/n
That sets up a battle with ourselves where thinking “positive” is good, and thinking (feeling) negative is “bad”.
We end up attacking and criticising the feelings we are having, and feeling worse and prolonging the distress.
4/n
We end up attacking and criticising the feelings we are having, and feeling worse and prolonging the distress.
4/n
A note on “positive” and “negative” emotions: it’s bollocks.
There is no such thing, there are only feelings.
There are more distressing feelings, and more pleasant feelings, but when we judge feelings, we create another problem: we attack some feelings as wrong.
5/n
There is no such thing, there are only feelings.
There are more distressing feelings, and more pleasant feelings, but when we judge feelings, we create another problem: we attack some feelings as wrong.
5/n
What should we do instead then? First allow feelings, and try to avoid judging them.
“There is no wrong way to feel.”
This doesn’t mean staying in the distressing feelings, but we have to feel them enough to be able to identify them.
What next?
6/n
“There is no wrong way to feel.”
This doesn’t mean staying in the distressing feelings, but we have to feel them enough to be able to identify them.
What next?
6/n
Validate your pain: of course you feel distressed: you’re in lockdown in the middle of a global pandemic and there isn’t a wrong way to feel about that.
Most people are feeling the same way. Next..?
7/n
Most people are feeling the same way. Next..?
7/n
Respond to the emotions with effective action: use the emotions as a prompt to action.
If you feel lonely, reach out for connection.
Anxious distract with activities are either physically relaxing or physically intense (exercise)
8/n
If you feel lonely, reach out for connection.
Anxious distract with activities are either physically relaxing or physically intense (exercise)
8/n
Feeling down or sad/ depressed?
Get moving physically or mentally active - get engaged in anything to get moving and even better a sense of achievement.
And remember the feelings will pass: all feelings do.
9/n
Get moving physically or mentally active - get engaged in anything to get moving and even better a sense of achievement.
And remember the feelings will pass: all feelings do.
9/n
We don’t have to force ourselves to feel positive because as feelings come and go, pleasant feelings will come too: even more so if we stop battling with ourselves and actively behave in ways that change how we feel. 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💚" title="Green heart" aria-label="Emoji: Green heart">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏻" title="Folded hands (light skin tone)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (light skin tone)">
10/10
10/10
