Positive and Negative Attitudes

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perlcookwriter

Guest
#1
#1
Okay, so I have been thinking...

About positive and negative attitudes.

A positive attitude is supposed to be a good thing. Everyone knows, that everyone wants to be happy. But do they?

I usually have a more solemn outlook on things. Not often too excited and not recently not eager to say I am doing great. Kinda blame my grandma (who is not Christian) just a little, because she never thought it was right that I always said I was great - and I talk with her on the phone like every few days.

But the thing is, I live life, I do my thing, and then I get around some positive people - and realize just how negative I really am.

I wonder how positive Jesus was. He never strikes me as a real happy guy. And my Dad is happy alot but he is not ALWAYS happy. At least he doesn't look sad when he is acting normal.

I guess what gets me thinking about this is that I think about happy people, being happy, and I don't automatically get a happy feeling. It is almost as if being more reserved is more comfortable, and thus better. But that would go against everything I have been taught my entire life.

Disclaimer: This has NOTHING to do with depression. And I am NOT usually sad, and am not now.
 
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Tinuviel

Guest
#2
#2
If I get what you're saying, I think you're right.

I think it is wrong to say that you should "just think positive" it is untrue. "Positive" thinking can caused a lot of damage. I could say, "sure, Hell is a real place, but hey! I'm just going to think positive. Hell isn't REALLY where I'll end up." However, negative thinking isn't good either! I'm not always happy. I think I might even say that I am OFTEN not happy, if you define happy as a peppy, excited, positive person. But I'm rarely discontent. And I work and pray hard for that contentment!! It isn't just something that happens.

I don't know of a place where the Bible tells us to just "be happy. Think positive thoughts." But there are MANY places that teach contentment.

For myself, I like to call myself a realist. I completely shocked my sister the other day by randomly spouting, "The saying 'God's in His heaven, all is right with the world', is stupid and inaccurate. it SHOULD be, 'the LORD has chosen to let the world go to pot, and everything is in His control.'" For some reason that doesn't make such a nice, pithy little saying. :D
 
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wwjd_kilden

Guest
#3
#3
There is negative, there is positive and there is unrealistic.

- I have some friends who say themselves they are (and others should be) positive ... but they don't do half the things they claim they'll do. ...and still they accuse people of being negative if they say "I don't know if ...." :p

We don't have to always be suuuuper duper positive. ... but of course, we don't have to be negative either.
As Christians, I think the balance can be hard to find when preaching the gospel. We overdo it in either direction
 
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perlcookwriter

Guest
#4
#4
Thank you for responding. : )

I think I was confusing seriousness, with negativity. And contentment, with positivity.

But then there is also the sort of "high" I noticed, from negative thoughts. Dwelling on an unfortunate situation. A story for example, a piece of literature where the main character is someone to be pitied upon and things keep going wrong. Not only is this fun to read, but it is fun to write. It's always seemed like a guilty pleasure almost, but then, if negativity is not nice why is it fun?
 
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Tinuviel

Guest
#5
#5
perlcookwriter said:
Thank you for responding. : )

I think I was confusing seriousness, with negativity. And contentment, with positivity.

But then there is also the sort of "high" I noticed, from negative thoughts. Dwelling on an unfortunate situation. A story for example, a piece of literature where the main character is someone to be pitied upon and things keep going wrong. Not only is this fun to read, but it is fun to write. It's always seemed like a guilty pleasure almost, but then, if negativity is not nice why is it fun?
Click to expand...
Well, when I write, I know I enjoy a "dark" passage (if you will) because of what is coming later. I personally don't enjoy writing negative passages without the positive passages that follow it up. And a completely dark and confused book is (in my experience) never fun.

It's just like, you cannot preach the gospel without first pointing out a person's sin. How can a person be "saved" if they don't know what they're being saved from? In this world where sin and darkness and negativity are everywhere, writing a story in a paradise-perfect world doesn't work. We cannot relate. We have to see the bad, so that the good makes sense.

I'm not sure if that's what you're talking about, or if I'm just completely derailing the thread...I have that unfortunate habit! :D
 
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perlcookwriter

Guest
#6
#6
That is *close* to what I'm talking about.

It is true. The greater the suspense, the greater the relief. But there is something about getting stuck in the negative as well.

When reading a book, you need the happy ending for it to be worthwhile. Then you can enjoy every moment of it.

Yet I sometimes find myself *admittedly* imagining a negative, pitiful scene, just because it gives me that emotional high.

Could also relate to the fact that people like to complain. When they start complaining about something, they often find it hard to stop. It's easier to be stuck in that mindset rather than moving on - because the prospect of getting happy is somehow not thrilling. I don't understand that.

I think I might actually be derailing this thread myself. But it all kinda relates, and I barely knew what I was talking about to begin with, so. XD
 
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