“Let’s stay positive!”
It’s a mantra that we’re listening to greater than ever on this interval dominated by miserable information tales and in an period that emphasises and prioritises private growth and optimistic considering.
While a optimistic outlook can certainly be good for psychological well being, when it’s perceived as basically an order to be happy when one’s emotional state is way from it, this optimistic focus can find yourself changing into counterproductive, and even fall into the realm of poisonous positivity.
According to psychologists who’ve studied the query, poisonous positivity refers to the phenomenon of repressing all unfavorable feelings, to the purpose of pretending to be happy and always assuring these round us that the whole lot is ok.
But in the long term, the very fact of repressing our unfavorable feelings and never going through our psychological discontent (whether or not it’s anxiousness, concern or loneliness) may end up in the emergence of signs of despair.
“[T]he ability to live with our emotions is essential.
“Suppressing or avoiding them does not solve anything.
“In fact, trying to avoid negative emotions at all costs does not bring about the desired effect – on the contrary, the emotions tend to return more often, and more intensely,” Université du Québec (Montréal), Canada, PhD candidate in psychology Andrée-Ann Labranche defined on the media web site The Conversation.
But at a time when optimistic considering may be very widespread and brazenly displaying one’s misery or unfavorable emotions (particularly for the reason that pandemic) appears to be much less and fewer tolerated in society, it’s not always straightforward to categorical and externalise what one is feeling.
According to a survey carried out in early July (2022) by Germany-based market analysis start-up Appinio, 60% of French folks suppose that the emphasis on being happy is changing into increasingly more prevalent in society.
According to the survey, 28% of French folks have a tendency not to reply actually when requested how they’re doing, in all probability for concern of being misunderstood.
This is especially the case throughout holidays (62%) or main “happy” occasions akin to a wedding ceremony (61%), but additionally with their household (59%) or at work (57%).
Meanwhile, when it comes to social networks, 72% of respondents admit that they feel pressured to show a optimistic angle once they go on such platforms, particularly Facebook (41%) and Instagram (22%). – AFP Relaxnews
