Posted by Dinah on July 8, 2011, at 8:44:06
In reply to Re: Pressure to be positive really annoys me, posted by manduh on July 6, 2011, at 19:36:55
The funny thing is that spirituality does play a large part in my life, and I am religious - if not particularly denominational. I have no real problem with having gratitude, or with saying grace.
Yet my reaction to forced cheeriness and optimism is very very negative.
And I can't do affirmations without thinking of Stuart Smalley. "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." I then do have a tendency to giggle, but not with any real positivity.
I think there have been studies saying that the forced self esteem stuff can backfire. But try as I might, I can't find any that say that the forced smiley face stuff can backfire. Oh, I wish I were in the field. I know I can't be the only one whose response to a cheery "Be happy" is an urge to punch someone. Hard.
(My husband finds my reaction to a cheery "Good morning" amusing. So now he gives a disclaimer. Something along the lines of "This is just a statement of temporal reality and hopeful wishes, not a judgement on the actual value of morning or of this morning in particular." Or he'll say "Morning" without the "good" and with an exaggeratedly careful expression. Which does make me smile and puts me in a better mood, actually.)
poster:Dinah
thread:990321
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20110706/msgs/990520.html