The Positivity Prescription: Less a prescription, more a priority

Positivity has had a bit of a bad rap recently.? The pendulum has definitely swung too far to the other side – commonly referred to as “toxic positivity”.? I agree in the main with the concerns and criticisms about the dark side of positivity but it’s time to find our “middle way”.? In fact, I would argue for most things, there’s real benefit in finding the “golden mean” rather than polarisation or dichotomisation.??

In 2020 on the eve of the formal announcement to the world that COVID-19 had become a global pandemic, I was celebrating the launch of my first book for the public – “The Positivity Prescription”.? After close to 20 years of publishing in peer reviewed scientific journals and academic textbooks, I decided the time had come to publish a book for the public.? “The Positivity Prescription” is a culmination of my life’s work so far - as a Clinical and Coaching Psychologist.? I pulled together some of the key theories, science and strategies that I had used in my practice over 20 years and that I’d also used to help myself weather life’s storms and to develop as a human being, to move towards becoming my “best possible self”.??

When we launched the book, we engaged a PR company to assist.? The feedback when COVID hit was “Sorry Suzy, but it’s just not getting any traction - it’s all about COVID right now!”.? My immediate response was “Yes I hear you, but that’s why the information contained in the book is needed right now - and more than ever!”.? After explaining the science and the psychological rationale for positivity to the PR team they changed tack and were able to pitch it to relevant media outlets, highlighting both the health and wellbeing benefits to actively promoting positivity in a global pandemic (noting in particular the benefits to immune functioning).??

During 2020 I gave numerous presentations on “The Power of Positivity in a VUCA World” outlining the reasons why the conscious cultivation of positivity (positive emotions and hopeful and optimistic thinking) is important for both our psychological and physical health and not only helps us feel good but function well.? You can listen to a webinar here that my Associates and I gave in 2020 on the topic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKy7RIiiJEM&list=PL9fiGhs3xtZAMQEP0AsBy7ZssoIAu07c_&index=1

To give you snapshot - so far, research tells us that induced positive emotions:

• broadens our attention
• increases intuition & increases creativity
• predicts resilience to adversity
• enhances psychological growth
• speeds recovery from the cardiovascular aftereffects of negative emotion
• increases immune function
• lowers levels of cortisol
• reduces inflammatory responses to stress
• leads to reductions in physical pain
• improves resistance to rhinoviruses
• leads to reductions in stroke

There’s also a significant number of studies in organisational settings that show experiencing positive emotions at work is correlated with enhanced job commitment, job satisfaction, greater team commitment, organisational commitment and financial performance.

So why isn’t positivity a priority right now? In fact, I’d argue it’s still very much in the doghouse!? Well when I first started searching for a dictionary definition of positivity, I stumbled across a blog post by Merriam Webster Dictionary discussing the many comments and feedback they’d received from people over the years claiming positivity was not even a word!? Their blog outlines the history of the word which shows that it was first used in the middle of the 17th century - although it was used primarily in conjunction with the discussion of sin – so no wonder it still has hang-ups!? History also tells us the word “negativity” wasn’t used until the 19th century.??

Why prioritise positivity now?

One positive outcome of COVID is that it’s helped raise awareness of just how much negativity there is in the world – often highlighted by the focus of the media on the bad news stories rather than the good – which often gets 5 minutes at the end of the news if you’re lucky.? And we all have what’s called a negativity bias – that is we pay more attention and give more weight to the negative than the positive - so it's easy to be drawn into and spiral down when it comes to negativity. We need to be mindful of that bias and consciously counteract it. And for those who have stronger negativity biases than others - this balancing act is even more important.? Yes it is a balance - prioritising positivity is not as many critics would have you believe - about getting rid of the negative - in fact that just won’t happen - but it is a balancing out, so to speak,? so we can experience the full range of human emotions - albeit with a stronger tilt towards the positive - and if you have seen the Disney movie Inside Out - you’ll know that - but I ask you - who wouldn’t want to be Joy?

Prioritising positivity

Research has found that there are individual differences in terms of how much people prioritise positivity.? That is they consciously create space in their daily lives for the people, places and experiences that create positive emotions.? For those that do – they appear to be better off - psychologically speaking.? There are many ways to enhance our positive emotional states eg gratitude exercises, acts of kindness (random and intentional), learning to forgive, spending time in nature, and creating high quality connections and positive relationships.? In the "The Positivity Prescription" I've created a Diary Card that lists 20 different “positivity practices” that are scientifically based and shown to effectively boost your mood.??

So with burnout and languishing on the rise, I would argue we could all do with a little mood boosting right now.? So let’s try and find that golden mean, that middle way, when it comes to positivity.? For many of us though, that will mean learning how to prioritise positivity, personally and professionally.? So pull out your diary and schedule in those activities, people and places that you know will bring you joy - and ultimately improve your mental health and wellbeing. And remember "life's too short to languish".

If you’d like us to download the first chapter of my book, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter at our website - www.thepositivityinstitute.com.au .? You can purchase "The Positivity Prescription" in our Shop.