Only permitting positivity

[Spiderman]

Does developing the ability to only think thoughts that feel good, and avoiding all painful thoughts, sound like a worthwhile goal or exercise?

It would mean having control of every thought that goes into your head, and only allowing positive thoughts in. Were this achievable, would it be a good thing?

 

[Spiderman]

Only people with a lot of time on their hands and few responsibilities could probably achieve this.

It would also likely require a person to not focus on their circumstances.

(Also, being chronically optimistic actually shows up on a brain scan.)

 

[PureX]

Why "only"? How about a healthy balance?

 

[Spiderman]

Why "only"? How about a healthy balance?

If the balance is healthy, then it sounds worthwhile.

 

[Quintessence]

Pain cannot be avoided.

Resiliency, however, can be cultivated. This is what I tell the students I work with. Some of us have been drawn better cards when it comes to resiliency than others. It depends on the role models we had growing up, what we were told by the adults around us, and to some extent our personalities.

To also add, we need to remember that mental health is a spectrum. In any given year, something like one in five people experience a diagnosable mental health issue. This shouldn't really be surprising, considering most of us experience at least one diagnosable physical health issue every year as well. Just like we can cultivate physical resilience, we can cultivate mental resilience. And you will always get sick sometimes no matter what.

 

[Valjean]

Bury your head in the sand, grin, and let everything else go to Hell?
Sounds alike a great strategy for social and environmental catastrophe.

 

[MonkeyFire]

Only speak yes.

 

[Spiderman]

Bury your head in the sand, grin, and let everything else go to Hell?
Sounds alike a great strategy for social and environmental catastrophe.

True, but being joyful and peaceful as earth burns could benefit those around you. There were joyful people in death camps who weren't focused on circumstances, and they helped others find greater peace.

 

[Valjean]

True, but being joyful and peaceful as earth burns could benefit those around you. There were joyful people in death camps who weren't focused on circumstances, and they helped others find greater peace.

At the expense of long-term well being? Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Valjean]

Drug use can make you joyful and happy, but at the expense of long-term well being.
How is forgoing pleasure and ignoring reality a superior lifestyle? How is it any different from just using drugs?

 

[Spiderman]

Drug use can make you joyful and happy, but at the expense of long-term well being.
How is forgoing pleasure and ignoring reality a superior lifestyle? How is it any different from just using drugs?

I cannot say it's any better. However, if focusing on reality causes toxic chemicals to be released into the bloodstream from stress, you might actually live longer if you don't think about your circumstances.

 

[Spiderman]

Drug use can make you joyful and happy, but at the expense of long-term well being.
How is forgoing pleasure and ignoring reality a superior lifestyle? How is it any different from just using drugs?

Yes, positive thinking actually works on the same neurotransmitters as meth and heroin, just less intense of a release of the dopamine, norepinephrine, or endorphins

 

[dybmh]

Does developing the ability to only think thoughts that feel good, and avoiding all painful thoughts, sound like a worthwhile goal or exercise?

My vote? no.

It would mean having control of every thought that goes into your head, and only allowing positive thoughts in. Were this achievable, would it be a good thing?

Because it is virtually impossible, it is not a good thing.

A person interacts with the world using actions, speech, and thoughts.

Many people can control their actions. Some people can control their speech. Virtually no one can control their thoughts.

 

[Nimos]

Does developing the ability to only think thoughts that feel good, and avoiding all painful thoughts, sound like a worthwhile goal or exercise?

It would mean having control of every thought that goes into your head, and only allowing positive thoughts in. Were this achievable, would it be a good thing?

I don't think you can as such force good thoughts into your head, but what you can do is to reflect over bad thoughts and try to make an "internal" analysis in your head of why you thought what you did. And then argue against yourself why such thoughts are wrong. Also you can learn yourself to relax more and not let certain situation get to you, so basically teach yourself not to get easily offended, annoyed by things that really doesn't matter when you think about it. That will also help you become happier and less stressed. So my best advice is to spend some time in some nice relaxing surroundings reflecting over things that bothers you and think them through and whether its actually worth caring about them. I think that is probably the best way to "force" happier thoughts and eventually make life more enjoyable.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Does developing the ability to only think thoughts that feel good, and avoiding all painful thoughts, sound like a worthwhile goal or exercise?

It would mean having control of every thought that goes into your head, and only allowing positive thoughts in. Were this achievable, would it be a good thing?

That would drive you mad!

Uh.. nevermind.

*Grin*

 

[SalixIncendium]

Does developing the ability to only think thoughts that feel good, and avoiding all painful thoughts, sound like a worthwhile goal or exercise?

It would mean having control of every thought that goes into your head, and only allowing positive thoughts in. Were this achievable, would it be a good thing?

I think doing so would severely limit one’s ability to learn from one’s experiences.

 

[stvdv]

Does developing the ability to only think thoughts that feel good, and avoiding all painful thoughts, sound like a worthwhile goal or exercise?

Sounds very good ... My suggestion is to change "avoiding" to "witness". Avoiding might end up in "suppressing" which might be unhealthy
Does developing the ability to only think thoughts that feel good, and witness all painful thoughts, sound like a worthwhile goal or exercise?

 

[Quagmire]

Does developing the ability to only think thoughts that feel good, and avoiding all painful thoughts, sound like a worthwhile goal or exercise?

I think so. Mainly because trying to focus exclusively on the positive would cause you to at least give it equal time.

It's sort of like making up your mind to only eat healthy food: you're probably going to wind up eating some junk food anyway, but the commitment should at least cause you to eat healthier than you would have otherwise.

It would mean having control of every thought that goes into your head, and only allowing positive thoughts in. Were this achievable, would it be a good thing?

Well, thoughts don't really come "in". Information comes in and thoughts are one of our reactions to it. If you can take in all the information that's there and stay positive about it, yeah, I think it would be a good thing.

 

[MonkeyFire]

is non-violence a negative thing?

 

[Valjean]

Do you want the blue pill, or the red pill?