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McMolls

- 2 years ago

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The ten-day positivity challenge

One of my friends keeps posing this "Ten-Day Positivity Challenge" to me. The whole idea is that you must try not to indulge in any negative thoughts or actions for ten full days. He has told me that the farthest he has been able to make it has been six days, and he keeps having to start over. Intrigued, I tried to see how long I could go. I lasted about two hours. I've tried numerous times, and so far my longest stretch of time without dwelling on any negative thoughts has been three days. Lately, stress at work and in some personal relationships has made it increasingly more difficult to avoid cynicism. In the past week I have seen bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to some bad people. Today in particular, I had to re-start the challenge at least four times. But, on the days that I have been able to remain positive, I have felt more complete, and like I wasn't lost in my own life. I would like to pose this same Ten-day challenge to all of you here. It's natural to think negative thoughts, but it's possible not to indulge in them. Do you think it's possible to remain positive all of the time, or do you think a little cynicism is necessary?

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I think you could be positive all the time.

I'm positive i could not stay positive for even an hour. I don't think i would even try or want to try. Negative thoughts can also be seen as problems that require a solution. That's how one grows and learns. And learns that one can solve one's own problems. Positive thoughts only? Maybe in Utopia, where ever that is.

I'm not in favor of cynicism/negativity or positivity as a day-in, day-out lifestyle. There's another option. Equanimity is preferable, imo.

I am positive about things that it is reasonable to feel positive about. I am skeptical of things it is reasonable to feel skeptical about. I am angry about things that it is reasonable to feel angry about. And so on.

I don't know if I could go ten straight days without being negative, my sense of humor is highly dependant on my ability to pick on things (non-living things, I only pick on living things that I like). When I was in boot camp though the chaplin posed a challenge that was alot easier and actually had a pretty posative effect on me. At the end of the day write down three things you're thankful for, even if it's just breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We're hard wired to remember negative things in better detail than possative things. It's a survival instinct to help us avoid things that are potentially harmful. By writing things down that you're thankful for you're making a conscience effort to remember good things rather than bad.

i would have a hard time with this challenge...and i'm a fairly positive person. i think even mary poppins on prozac would have a hard time with this challenge.

I find it pretty easy to do. If a negative or cynical thought starts to surface, I recognize it and replace it with positivity. A simple way to accomplish this is to start everyday with gratitude.

because we are imperfect negative thoughts will come, as will the temptation to remains there. And because the world is the way it is, bad stuff will happen. The challenge lies not keeping an overall positive outlook in life. If bad stuff happens to drag you down, thats normal, just be sure to pick yourself up again. i wouldnt say that a little cynicism is necessary, but it is a natural part of the ebb and flow of life. however putting on a smiley face just cause you want to ignore the bad around you is foolish as well.

Now, why on EARTH would I want to try this? NO way.

I think its just better to choose your battles wisely. There will always be something negative that comes up but your reaction to it is what makes it supremely negative or something that can be turned into something positive. Its all in how you look at things.

It is possible to notice things and then just let them pass by......without giving them any thought or energy.....:)

I think we are all big magnits......Attracting like to like......I think we also have some life lessons to learn.....what neuro-net path are you creating????? we are faced with little forks in the road every moment...Making our life path!

I really don't think so. I think to remain positive all the time is purely ignorant. This could stem from me being slightly pessimistic. It's a neat thought though. I think we can think LESS negative thoughts but to cut them out completely is impossible.

for every thing there is a season. you must experience bad to appreciate the good. when you experience sorrow, you understand joy. I don't think it is possible to be positive all the time or even necessary or healthy

While negative thinking(living) is commonplace to an expert level, that does not mean there is anything natural about it. All one has to do is observe a baby to know that joy is what is natural. ("Bad" people aren't born; they are created after the fact.) Every thought is creating something because thought is pure energy and vibration. There is nothing in your experience, including and especially how you feel, that does not originate in thought. But we don't tend to choose our thoughts deliberately. We tend to think reactively to external conditions. "This thing happened, therefore I think and subsequently feel this way." No, no, no. A cynic is one who does not choose their thoughts deliberately, but who only thinks reactively, a sort of puppet in the wind. A cynic does not believe that thought is important, or they couldn't be a cynic. I could rattle on indefinitely about this topic, but I'll just leave you with a tidbit to chew on, an excellent definition of "worry": Worrying is using your imagination to create something you do not want. Powerful incentive to choose different kinds of thoughts, assuming of course that one has an understanding of the power of their thoughts.

Without meaning to be completely negative, I think to attain growth of any sort we must identify and overcome the negative forces. I think very frequently they are put in our way for a reason. But pitching a tent on the negative is not productive. It must be overcome.

It's a bit similar to the 7 day and 7 night challenge that Scary Guy gives those he is teaching about bullying and how to put a stop to it... its an easier start but still not easy - and means not SAYING a negative word about anybody for 7 days and 7 nights, the odd thought is not going to mean a slip up... I found this one hard enough - and yes it specifically does include swearing at other drivers....

Sounds a great challenge to me. I wish we could all try it at the same time on the planet. Training ourselves consciously should yield some results. At least by trying we attain a higher level of positivity and spirituality than not setting any goal.

Positivity is like a sandcastle. No matter how big of a moat you dig, or how many buffering walls you build around it, the tide is going to creep in and annihilate it. Of course, you could build another sandcastle, but after all that effort you put into the first one, would you really want to?

The opposite of "positive" isn't "cynical." It's "negative." Bad things HAVE to happen. Like shadows.

SoulPancake

McMolls

The ten-day positivity challenge

DanielPotashov

I think you could be positive all the time.

disconnected1954

mstilda

I'm not in favor of cynicism/negativity or positivity as a day-in, day-out lifestyle. There's another option. Equanimity is preferable, imo.

zamfir

I am positive about things that it is reasonable to feel positive about. I am skeptical of things it is reasonable to feel skeptical about. I am angry about things that it is reasonable to feel angry about. And so on.

Mistral

glasshalffull

i would have a hard time with this challenge...and i'm a fairly positive person. i think even mary poppins on prozac would have a hard time with this challenge.

Trixie

I find it pretty easy to do. If a negative or cynical thought starts to surface, I recognize it and replace it with positivity. A simple way to accomplish this is to start everyday with gratitude.

thenephite

kdmask

Now, why on EARTH would I want to try this? NO way.

Ophelia82

I think its just better to choose your battles wisely. There will always be something negative that comes up but your reaction to it is what makes it supremely negative or something that can be turned into something positive. Its all in how you look at things.

christina

It is possible to notice things and then just let them pass by......without giving them any thought or energy.....:)

christina

I think we are all big magnits......Attracting like to like......I think we also have some life lessons to learn.....what neuro-net path are you creating????? we are faced with little forks in the road every moment...Making our life path!

sarahL

I really don't think so. I think to remain positive all the time is purely ignorant. This could stem from me being slightly pessimistic. It's a neat thought though. I think we can think LESS negative thoughts but to cut them out completely is impossible.

melb2

for every thing there is a season. you must experience bad to appreciate the good. when you experience sorrow, you understand joy. I don't think it is possible to be positive all the time or even necessary or healthy

SharonM

PopeSkippyXVI

Without meaning to be completely negative, I think to attain growth of any sort we must identify and overcome the negative forces. I think very frequently they are put in our way for a reason. But pitching a tent on the negative is not productive. It must be overcome.

flashbanding

mhusayni

Sounds a great challenge to me. I wish we could all try it at the same time on the planet. Training ourselves consciously should yield some results. At least by trying we attain a higher level of positivity and spirituality than not setting any goal.

Pwnzerfaust

Positivity is like a sandcastle. No matter how big of a moat you dig, or how many buffering walls you build around it, the tide is going to creep in and annihilate it. Of course, you could build another sandcastle, but after all that effort you put into the first one, would you really want to?

RyanLBailey

The opposite of "positive" isn't "cynical." It's "negative." Bad things HAVE to happen. Like shadows.

The ten-day positivity challenge

I think you could be positive all the time.

I'm not in favor of cynicism/negativity or positivity as a day-in, day-out lifestyle. There's another option. Equanimity is preferable, imo.

I am positive about things that it is reasonable to feel positive about. I am skeptical of things it is reasonable to feel skeptical about. I am angry about things that it is reasonable to feel angry about. And so on.

i would have a hard time with this challenge...and i'm a fairly positive person. i think even mary poppins on prozac would have a hard time with this challenge.

I find it pretty easy to do. If a negative or cynical thought starts to surface, I recognize it and replace it with positivity. A simple way to accomplish this is to start everyday with gratitude.

Now, why on EARTH would I want to try this? NO way.

I think its just better to choose your battles wisely. There will always be something negative that comes up but your reaction to it is what makes it supremely negative or something that can be turned into something positive. Its all in how you look at things.

It is possible to notice things and then just let them pass by......without giving them any thought or energy.....:)

I think we are all big magnits......Attracting like to like......I think we also have some life lessons to learn.....what neuro-net path are you creating????? we are faced with little forks in the road every moment...Making our life path!

I really don't think so. I think to remain positive all the time is purely ignorant. This could stem from me being slightly pessimistic. It's a neat thought though. I think we can think LESS negative thoughts but to cut them out completely is impossible.

for every thing there is a season. you must experience bad to appreciate the good. when you experience sorrow, you understand joy. I don't think it is possible to be positive all the time or even necessary or healthy

Without meaning to be completely negative, I think to attain growth of any sort we must identify and overcome the negative forces. I think very frequently they are put in our way for a reason. But pitching a tent on the negative is not productive. It must be overcome.

Sounds a great challenge to me. I wish we could all try it at the same time on the planet. Training ourselves consciously should yield some results. At least by trying we attain a higher level of positivity and spirituality than not setting any goal.

Positivity is like a sandcastle. No matter how big of a moat you dig, or how many buffering walls you build around it, the tide is going to creep in and annihilate it. Of course, you could build another sandcastle, but after all that effort you put into the first one, would you really want to?

The opposite of "positive" isn't "cynical." It's "negative." Bad things HAVE to happen. Like shadows.

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