Why Positive Thinking is Actually Negative

BY SOFO ARCHON

This is the transcript of a spontaneous talk.

So-called positive thinking is anything but positive. It is actually quite negative, because it has us deny reality. It has us close our eyes and pretend that everything’s alright. It has us pretend that our problems are not there. Because this is what so-called positive thinking is telling us:

“Just think that your problems are not there, and they are going to disappear just like that.”

Or “just wish that they will be resolved, and they will.”

So, it keeps people entrapped in suffering, because obviously those things don’t really help anyone. On the contrary, they hurt them. Because when we don’t deal with our problems, they usually tend to become more complex over time, and hence more difficult to resolve.

To deal with suffering, we have to face our pain, not to neglect it. Only by facing reality, can we understand it. Only by looking into our pain, can we understand its nature, why it’s there. And hence what we can do to treat it. There is no other way.

But that’s painful. That hurts. And people don’t want to hurt. That’s why they adhere to the philosophy of “positive thinking.” And that’s why they do so many things to distract themselves from their problems. That’s why they take pills and drugs to numb themselves to their pain.

True positive behavior is opening our eyes and seeing reality eye-to-eye. Seeing our problems, seeing the negativity of the world, and trying to understand them, as well as taking action to improve the conditions of our lives. That’s a true positive way of living. There is no other way, and don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise, because they are selling you bullshit.

So, face your life’s problems, don’t deny them, and do something about them.

Further reading:

For a deeper critique of “positive thinking,” read this article.