We should look at both the positive and negative aspects of a situation or issue to take corrective action so as to ensure best results, says KISHOR KULKARNI
It is wisely said that unless and until you acknowledge a problem, you cannot solve it. Acknowledging a problem, in some sense, means being negative; and being positive is thought of as not looking at the negative aspects, and considering only the positive side of an issue.
In recent times, people are being exhorted to be positive. But being positive doesn’t really mean suppressing the negative. By doing so, it will only lead to the problems being brushed under the carpet, without attempting to solve them.
So a true positive approach entails counting blessings but without losing sight of the reality in total, that may also have some negatives. By counting our blessings, we can keep ourselves in a positive frame of mind, while at the same time keeping an eye on the negatives. This approach too can move us to improve the ground situation.
If our mental state is as calm as possible, while being aware of the problems on hand, we are more likely to take the right course of action. Just being negative will probably freeze us and just being positive will likely make us foolhardy.
There are two distinct perspectives on the issue of positivity ― individual and collective. From an individual perspective, one may be helpless in the face of one’s inherent nature that may not make one capable of positivity. It is very difficult for such a person to force himself against his nature and be positive.
However, the collective perspective is different. In a large enough community, there are bound to be people of varying natures ranging from being very positive, very balanced or being very negative. As a community, we have to give individuals their space to express and act in keeping with their nature.
It is not right to try and impose positivity on all because that will only cause the negative thinkers to clam up. Then there is the lurking danger that the problems of the community may be swept under the carpet in the name of positivity. So from a collective perspective, a society must take an overall view and consider both the positive and negative outlooks of different people.
A good case in point is the Covid-19 pandemic scenario in India. After the first wave started subsiding in mid-September last year and the count kept coming down steadily over the next five months or so, everyone right from the governments down to the common man adopted a positive outlook and ignored the clear likelihood and even warnings of an imminent second wave.
This was an instance of choosing to suppress the negative outlook. That is what made us go lax on preparations for the impending second wave and throw to the winds, cautions like masking up and physical distancing. The result is for all of us to see, unfortunate though it is.
If you mix up positivity and negativity, you may often find that in sum, you are fine and hence may not be moved to act to remove the negative part. For example, can you imagine yourself with your head in the oven and your feet in the deep freezer? You can very well say that your average temperature is normal and hence there is no need to do anything!
If an attempt is made in the name of positivity to whitewash a negative, it will be counterproductive because it will then preclude corrective action that may be necessary. Also, if only the so-called positive aspects of an issue are flaunted and negative aspects dismissed, either by fake arguments or simply denied, again that will prevent corrective action and shut the door to optimisation.
Kishor Kulkarni is a technologist by education with work experience of about 30 years, spanning banking and information technology. After he developed spiritual interests around the age of 50, he quit his job to pursue spirituality. He has written many books on spirituality and self-published them on Amazon. Many of his articles have been published in the ‘Speaking Tree’ column of the ‘Times of India’.
Positive thinking is practicing positive outlook or optimistic approach. It’s to train our mind to think good things, while being aware of the worst in the back of the mind.
It doesn’t mean one overlooks the facts, ignore the problems and become careless. For example if one is diagnosed with cancer, the patient knows it’s a deadly disease many people die from cancer too, so before one go thru the treatments these negatives may disturb the person but if one has optimistic approach, one welcomes the problem as part of life and deals with it courageously. So positive thinking helps people manage illness and or any challenging issue, eases depression, anxiety which makes us weak inside. Nice blog sir
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Positive + Negative, that’s me!
The statement itself affirms that life is merely a mixture of dualities and balancing all the dichotomies like joy & sorrow, agonies & ecstasies, flamboyance & challenges and so on…we must strike a fusion so that we can transcend the dichotomies with utmost ease, without friction.
We may wish away this as merely a philosophical contemplation, but this itself is the only way to deal with the fact of life which stares at us point blank in every conflicting situation to be dealt with, with appropriate action.
Just roll on the muck or clean it, do not push it under the carpet taking it to be the very best of option. Hopefully this is the appropriate psychology to live with, with appropriate action.