The Daily Walk: False Positivity versus Forced Positivity

Hello, my daily walkers,

I hope you take your steps and breathe fresh air at least once daily, preferably in the morning.

A short morning walk has a wide range of physical benefits, such as boosting immunity, improving circulation, and supporting joint health, but it also has a significant effect on mental health. Studies have shown that getting up and moving improves your circadian rhythm, fosters creativity, and helps you sleep better.?

Just a quick reminder before we jump into the topic. :)

In the past months, I have been investing my walking time into thinking about the different faces of positivity. As a primarily negative person, it takes me a lot to pass through time every day. Some days, I must deliberately force myself to greet people, be nice, and be encouraging to team members and friends for the sake of positive outcomes (and some days, I am really not into it).

Thinking about the mechanics of this heavily emotional state, I categorized two kinds of positive: the?false positive?and the?forced positive.

What is a False Positive?

In science, a?false positive?is an error in binary classification in which a test result incorrectly indicates the presence of a condition.?

False positivity may sometimes be a good approach to complex situations or challenges. For example,?I see a tough day coming to work, but I will force myself to accept it as an opportunity to modify a certain process and make it more efficient.

This method also connects nicely with a recent discovery in neuroscience.?

Science discovered a strong connection between the anterior mid-cingulate cortex and a person's willingness to pursue and achieve goals. Even more interesting, research indicates that when a person engages in activities they inherently dislike, this brain area grows in size, making them more resilient and satisfied with the results (for some time).

The time I invested in thinking and reading about these fascinating discoveries forced me to take action and pursue a goal I had been avoiding for 1.5 years:?making an edible garden out of our home balcony.?

It sounds like an easy one, but believe me, after reading about 'perfect soils', pots, and plant compatibility for a week, you'll be as desperate as I was.

What is a Forced Positive?

Maintaining a facade of overly optimistic positivism regardless of emotions or situations is a time bomb.?

We have all been in a position where society, the workplace, or HR (oops) insists we sweep challenges and conflicts under the rug and keep a happy face instead of being open and addressing them. However, the effort to maintain this fake emotional state is even greater than the one needed to challenge yourself into false positivity.?

What's the difference, you'd ask?

The difference is the genesis of force: internal or external. You make a conscious decision to make yourself positive about a challenge you are about to face, or the external environment forces you to adapt to the desired tone of voice because of specific rules.

I will leave the conclusion to you. Just remember, there is a limited amount of positive emotions you can give to yourself and others.?

Thank you for reading this far.

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Resources:

• The Tenacious Brain: How the Anterior Mid-Cingulate Contributes to Achieving Goals
• David Goggins: How to Build Immense Inner Strength