Psychology often describes a positive person as someone who often experiences happiness but it’s much more than that. Happiness is a mood whereas positivity is a state of mind. Anyone can experience joy but positivity on the other hand, you must develop.
Positivity is the strong belief things will work out, it’s seeking the good in all situations no matter what while still being realistic. Some people are like I’m gonna be the best ever and not work for it, that’s just being oblivious. Positivity really is defined as I know I will achieve my goals because I work hard and face adversity with a good, efficient attitude.
It’s important that you don’t just go “I just have to be happy all the time to be positive” because the most uncomftorable emotions are there for a reason, they can motivate you to make changes or teach you something. If you start ignoring your natural reactions to the world around you, is that you’re giving your body the wrong feedback, and training yourself to not react, or worse.
My favourite example of a positive person who persevered is Jim Carrey. We all think of him as happy, funny and overly-enthusiastic but he wasn’t always this way. His family resorted to living in a van because his family was so poor and he even dropped out of school to help.
“Life opens up opportunities to you and you either take them or stay afraid of taking them.”
Jim Carrey
Jim said “I would visualize having directors interested in me and people that I respected saying that I like your work. And I would visualize things coming to me that I want. And I had nothing at that time and it just made me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That’s the thing. You can’t just visualize and go eat a sandwich.”
He also wrote himself a 10 million dollar check while he was struggling and when asked about the cheque Carrey smiled and said “Yes, I wrote myself a cheque of $10 millions, for acting services rendered, and I gave myself 5 years. And I dated it Thanks Giving 1995. And I put it in my wallet and I kept it deteriorating and deteriorating. And just before 1995 I found out that I was going to make $10 million on Dumb And Dumber.”
A positive person is the one that looks for the rainbows and rainy days and when dealing with hardships doesn’t just blow them off and smile, but faces it and knows it will pass.
The difference between positivity and happiness
For you to understand positivity, you must also understand happiness which is very different. Happiness is joy because of something happening or something you are doing. It’s when you laugh at something funny or experience positive emotions on a roller coster whereas Positivity is much more; It’s mostly related to your view on life and how you think.
Positivity will give you more self confidence, more energy/motivation, more peace of mind. You’ll also feel stronger and more capable.
Contrary to popular belief, someone positive experiences the same range of emotions as someone who is not because no one can be happy all the time but they will focus on the bright side of life and achieve better outcomes even in worst situations
In order to live a positive life, you must accept the bad parts, the pain and the uncertainty one lives through and know that better times are coming.
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