Positivity, Toxic Positivity, and Positive Intention

self-awarenessmindfulnesslife lessonsawarenesspositivityhope
Written By Raine Creative

Why does the world need more positivity?

Being virtually gut-punched constantly takes a toll on everyone. And that is why positive intention matters more now than ever.

Positivity empowers. It is an open door, a window to the world, an option that feels good, right, and true.

Choosing positivity, on the other hand, empowers because it’s the equivalent of persevering and keeping on. I can do it. Everything is figureoutable. There is hope. It’s doable. Can you see how empowering choosing that is?

When you actively, mindfully choose positivity, you choose to take back your empowerment. The empowerment that is your birthright.

What is toxic positivity?

Toxic positivity is the notion that a positive attitude – while ignoring and disregarding all else – will make the world a better place. If you just think and act positively, all the time, you can improve the world.

Real positivity recognizes and acknowledges that sh*! happens. You will have bad days. Negativity will dominate your life from time to time. But – real positivity is a choice. Over time, you can continue to feel negative and let it be your dominant life experience – or find and/or create positivity where you can.

Mindfulness and intention

Once you recognize and acknowledge how you feel – and that it’s negative – you have a choice. Seek positivity and the hope it offers? Or stay in the negativity and lose hope?

How do your use positive intention? Mindfulness.

Mindfulness is you being consciously aware, in the present, of your thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions. That opens the way to you taking charge and – if your thoughts and feelings are negative – taking control and changing them with positive intention.

And this is all about intent. Because you intend to turn from facing the negative end of the cylinder to the positive end that you can control here and now.

With positive intention comes hope. Because rather than being in and seeing negativity all around, you are choosing to find and/or create positivity. And that is where hope lives.

This week’s Applied Guidance for Mindfulness Tool:

Mindfulness lets you recognize your present state of being. It’s how you know your mood, attitude, and conscious self here and now.

Via recognition of your thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions, you can and will know yourself and where you are.

But what about where you are going? This is where positive intention comes in.

Like the basic mindfulness questions, recognizing if your intent is positive or negative is also a matter of asking yourself questions. These should be asked aloud whenever you desire to gauge where you’re facing. You might also want to write them out.

·         Are my thoughts making me feel positive or negative?

·         Do my feelings skew negative or positive?

·         Am I taking actions that build positivity or negativity?

·         Is my intent to build up with positivity or take down with negativity?

Yes, this might seem overly simple. But when, if ever, have you asked yourself these questions before?

Raine Creative
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