When we're feeling down or negative, we're often told to "think positive." Some advocate the so-called positive affirmations where we tell ourselves that "we are amazing", "we can do it", "deserve happiness" etc.
Of course, it is much better to be positive than negative. But the above mentioned ways do not make us positive. Many who engage in affirmations of various kinds repress their negative sides and become unbalanced "positive", which is a self-deception that is quite unpleasant to watch.
Basically, we humans are negative. There are studies that indicate that most of our thoughts are negative and repetitive. According to the National Science Foundation, we think up to 60,000 thoughts daily, of which 85 percent are negative and 95 percent are the same as we thought the day before.
Our mind world thus has a significant "dark" side. It can be said that the human mind is a negative and self-centered mind. An acceptance of this fact is the starting point of the path to being able to find a truly positive life.
What does this mean? Well, if we accept our dark sides, our negative thoughts and feelings, we have the opportunity to do something about them. We then have the opportunity to let them come forward and release them with meditation. Meditation is a process where we look inward and let go of what we see. In order to perform introspection, we must dare to see our negative sides; it doesn't work to deny them or to try to cover them up with positive affirmations.
As we accept and release our negative thoughts and feelings, something that can be called "true positivity" emerges within us. The true positivity is the mind of acceptance. We have discovered our true mind that has been hidden, covered under all layers of negativity. Finding this can be likened to finding the ground under the snow in the spring. An unwavering calm sets in, where we accept what happens without judgment of good or bad. It is a great joy to find this place within oneself and from here one cannot help but be positive. It comes naturally and not forced.
When we begin to discover this treasure within, we realize that there is no value in trying to labor with our emotions, trying to be positive when we are not, lying to ourselves, or forcing ourselves to shape a character that is not natural to us. Only by shedding that which covers our true nature can we live our natural expression that is both peaceful and joyful.
Here is a small video that illustrates the above in a good way.
Michael