Interesting debate.
What is more beneficial in sobriety (and life in general, for that matter): more positive thoughts or less negative thoughts?
My short answer/opinion is less negative thinking. You can have a million happy thoughts but the one right negative thought can smash all the good ones like a bug on windshield.
Hm love this! Less negative thinking is definitely helpful, but for me it's like driving through a storm of bugs on the windshield because there's a destination worth driving to. I definitely need positive thoughts to provide an anchor.
I wake up with a jillion negative thoughts…so I do not even entertain the notion of negative thoughts N O T taking over.
Basically…I am trying to build a toolbox, an “ arsenal “ if you will (?)…of thoughts and practices which will benefit this self as I move through-throughout my moments and days.
I was raised by uh, “ lovely “ humans…while they are bleeping negative.
Can be, this least.
Some of it is cultural.
?
They always seem to waiting for other shoes to drop, feels like.
I turned 50 last year.
From here on out…I am unlearning a lot of well, garbage which I was taught.
I cannot stand toxic positivity…so…I most certainly refuse to engage in T H A T!
Beyond “ negative “ and “ positive “ thinking…
In, within sobriety-this path…and as a part of life…( what I am working on )…
Acceptance.
Surrender.
And to stop trying to change what IS…to stop the resistance…( this always seems to create additional stress in my life ).
I do it to myself.
I appreciate the discussion…and the windshield analogy is spot-on!
I think mindful thoughts are the answer. Whether they are positive or negative is a matter of what notion we assign them. If we bring our thinking down to our most current and localized reality, we can stay in the now and leave the positive/negative debate altogether
Negative things make me think negative thoughts. I don't think im an outlier. I'm just a human. I'm never gonna get rid of negative thoughts. I know there are some "mindfulness" robots out there who never ever think anything negative, but im not one of them. For me, just not dwelling on them is where it's at. So I think I'd have to say more positive thoughts, like gratitude etc.
I do believe in mindfulness…which differs from toxic positivity.
I cannot stand the toxic positivity cr-p!!
Negative environments contribute to my negativity, yes.
I refuse to give, hand over power to people and, or environments…while they do make a difference, obviously!
With you on the gratitude-the practicing of so, Taylor.
Right, Mike C. …
I was trying to express this…you did a better job of doing so.
Gonna remember this.
It is going to help with my anxiety…( which seems to be getting worse by the day )?!
Still not gonna drink-cause eff that poison!
I'd say more positive thoughts. Turn the bad ones into positive ones. Always glass
Of course, they are always gonna be there, and the "dwelling" is what needs to be kiboshed.
Exactly. Letting them go is what I used to struggle with much more. Not so much these days though.
Agree with less negative. Most people have an issue with ANTs (always negative thoughts)! People are focused on the negative, it won’t work, I can’t do that, must be nice to be them, all those negatives people say! We could easily use the negative to say why we can’t stay sober if we want excuses! Drop the negative sh!t and people!