RE: Let's talk about the 'tyranny of happiness'
January 27, 2017 at 1:00 pm
(This post was last modified: January 27, 2017 at 1:03 pm by Longhorn.)
(January 27, 2017 at 12:56 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: I agree, it's stupid. I'm also horrible at it because I'm too realistic. If I know something will likely turn out badly, I'm not going to "think positively" and pretend that it won't, just for the sake of feeling happy at the time. I'm going to think realistically, and if that makes me upset, then I'll allow myself to be upset and to prepare for the worst. Better that than pretending everything will be fine when I know better.
Which I think is the better approach honestly, because it allows you to actually deal with the situation instead of running away from it and denying that it's not like you want it to be. And if you force yourself to be happy, you can't really feel it, because those emotions you had to push out of the way frist will come back.
(January 27, 2017 at 12:56 pm)SteelCurtain Wrote: I think the efficacy of "Think Positive" has always been over-reported or over-hyped. It works sometimes, but only in very specific situations which most often lack gravity.
I do understand what you are saying Vic, you are making sense.
Genuinely, what do you see as a solution? I always struggle with trying to boost people when they are down, and I've always had the internal struggle of knowing that the best way to deal with emotions is to sit with them and feeling shitty is perfectly normal and part of human experience. I also have the cognitive portion of it, which is that being happy is preferable to being sad, and I (personally) can do anything to change things once I have processed the emotion, I should.
I don't know.
Thanks. I'm having a hard time with words on this one.
I have no idea. I think working towards a solution of the person's problem is a good step, unless the person in question specifically doesn't want you to. But saying 'don't worry about it' isn't really trying to find a way to resolve their problem. I think it depends on the situation, but it's probably best to express empathy and understanding to help them deal with the feeling and try to cheer them up after they'd gotten over it mostly.
