here's an interesting question:

we have the thread, positive things i've done today.

but how positive are you actually?

how important is it for you to do positive things each day?

for me, the honest truth is that if it were up to me, I probably wouldn't do anything (notice when I post to that thread, it's always a lot of the same)

I post their because I have something to post about, and I do it because it's sort of needed (like for example, if I didn't eat for a week, big problem)

I don't really go out my way to do positive stuff (as most of the time I don't even feel good for doing it)

I do what I have to do most of the time, not because I want to do it, I need to do it

[Naynay99]

Hey. Interesting question.
When I am depressed it is difficult to do positive stuff because I often do not experience that good feeling of accomplishment afterwards, so what was the point.
But sometimes I do something that I have been putting off and do feel sort of good when I finally do it, but it's not something one can share with normal ppl bc to them it is a nonevent, so I could see sharing that.
In general I would say I am a positive person or at least try to be. A closet optimist. But I tend to feel better when I do positive stuff for other people more than I usually do for myself.
Sometimes reading that thread makes me feel kind of ****** bc other ppl are doing all this great stuff to better themselves, accomplishing more before 9 am than i do all week.
I know I probably lean to the negative more than I would like; I think ideally I want to be a person with a positive outlook that does do positive things but often I don't get any further than the intention of doing them, so I am positive only in my head and not in my life. Idk if that makes any sense.
Take care.

[Unrigged64072835]

I'm not usually positive. I remain stuck in neutral until anxiety or bipolar winds me up.

21 friends, relatives, and co-workers are bringing a class action lawsuit against me for my negativity.

[Miss Laura]

I am very positive in general mostly though for other people. I can see that other people need positivity in their daily lives so when I am talking to people I am very positive. When I am talking about myself or for myself I down play this and am a lot more negative. Ironic huh!

[bioChE]

At times I am positively depressed. At others I'm positively positive.

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I'm not usually positive. I remain stuck in neutral until anxiety or bipolar winds me up.

This.

I can usually maintain some semblance of hope even during depression, but I can't say I'm positive unless I'm hypo/manic.

[xRavenx]

It fluctuates. I've always been a little cynical. Lately, I'm outright negative. I feel the people in my life are judging me and criticizing me. It might be in my head, or maybe not...it's just my suspicions. I wish there was a magical pill that could fix that for good, but I haven't found it yet. I tell others to stay positive, but I wish I could practice what I preach.

I'm a pretty positive person. I haven't always been that way, but I've learned perspective helps.

[Standup2me]

I am positive to the point of being little Mary Sunshine. Bad things just seem to pass me by, and my sprint guides are always with me
I just say ' - let go and let god
Hubby on the other hand is Mr Negativity

[Nammu]

Is it possible to be a positive cynic?

Originally Posted by Miss Laura

I am very positive in general mostly though for other people. I can see that other people need positivity in their daily lives so when I am talking to people I am very positive. When I am talking about myself or for myself I down play this and am a lot more negative. Ironic huh!

that's me on this forum.

when I see a thread, I always think... well, what would that person want to here (even if it's not how I feel)

example of when I feel it most are threads where people say they don't have anything to live for or have tried everything.

I want to reply saying... well, life's a load of crap anyway. it's certainly not done me any favours, but in sted choose to reply with something along the lines of... well, their is always something new to try and new avenues to go down (even though i'm thinking is their though?. really?)

[hopeless2015]

This really varies for me. When i. Depressed I'm down and don't see any positives about myself or my life but I try to appear positive say at work, I e gotten pretty good at acting my way through the day and I truly have good co-workers. Right now I'm actually feeling pretty positive though and it feels pretty darn good, I hope it lasts

Before meds, my baseline was mildly depressed. I was always so negative about everything. But now with meds, my baseline is "upbeat" and I'm able to think positively. So it depends on how you look at it. I'm naturally a negative person because of my natural baseline, but artificially I am upbeat. (Idk if that makes any sense.)

[scatterbrained04]

It comes and goes with my moods and anxieties.

[seoultous]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Is it possible to be a positive cynic?

I think it is possible to be a positive cynic. I prefer to think of it as being a realist who is looking at the world through a critical lens. That is not a negative the way I see it. The conclusion you draw may seem positive or negative to others.

[wiretwister]

my mantra is "to live joyfully in a world of sorrows" ... the world will never change only our perception of it ... I try to be positive and I try to project that toward others ... when I am alone I am afraid the truth over whelms me sometimes ... this is a bad weekend for example ... I really do believe the answer is to accept things as they are and be joyful even in the mist of it ... in the east this would be called enlightenment ... for me ... just torture ... sometimes to know is not the best way to be ... the idea is to over come desire (for things) and fear of death ... death is no concern for me ... the idea of not providing (things - money) to maintain my family is my modivation and my downfall ... it prevents me from reaching that peace that would allow me to enter the gates of eternity ... positive ... in my physical life I try to be ... in my spiritual life no ... because I have been unable to cast off my desires ... I can have no spiritual life ... I must live in the land of duality ...

This changes - quite suddenly - as does my mental health. I am stable to quite up right now and being positive is a lot easier - an comes naturally. Usually I must dig down deep to be so. And then of course, when I am depressed, I don't even want to discuss it.

[MBM17]

Originally Posted by Miss Laura

I am very positive in general mostly though for other people. I can see that other people need positivity in their daily lives so when I am talking to people I am very positive. When I am talking about myself or for myself I down play this and am a lot more negative. Ironic huh!

Exactly me. I force positive comments for other people, especially when my bipolar comes up. Inside, I think it's BS. I hate this bipolar and there's no hope. That's how I really feel when I'm not doing well, even though I tell other people, "Oh, it's bad right now but it'll change again soon."

I'm really good at flipping negative ideas and thoughts because of all the freaking CBT I've had in the last 10 years, but I usually do it for others' benefits. Occasionally I do try to give myself hope with the corrected negative statements, but it doesn't change how I actually feel. I'm just telling myself the words.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by MBM17

Exactly me. I force positive comments for other people, especially when my bipolar comes up. Inside, I think it's BS. I hate this bipolar and there's no hope. That's how I really feel when I'm not doing well, even though I tell other people, "Oh, it's bad right now but it'll change again soon."

I'm really good at flipping negative ideas and thoughts because of all the freaking CBT I've had in the last 10 years, but I usually do it for others' benefits. Occasionally I do try to give myself hope with the corrected negative statements, but it doesn't change how I actually feel. I'm just telling myself the words.

Sounds familiar.

Too much positivity feels delusional and as off-kilter as too much negativity.
I live in severe chronic pain with debilitating physical components and quite frankly, it sux. I do try to stay positive despite my challenges. I am more positive for others, in truth.


WC