Really enjoyed this article and all the links to what may be additional thought-provoking reads! I always appreciate a dose of Viktor Frankl.
Part of being human is that we will forget our past suffering and start to take our current life for granted. But as Nelson notes, “The work is to remember more often than we forget.”
I had never heard the term “toxic positivity” but I’ve sure felt what it means when someone has tossed it my way in the middle of a crisis. Ouch!!! Terrific read and now that term, “toxic positivity” is in my lexicon!!!
A very valid point! No sense in idolizing the past. I think it is a bias of us humans to mostly remember the good parts from our past. But then again, the sentence before this one was:
Part of being human is that we will forget our past suffering and start to take our current life for granted.
Maybe, remembering where we came from, the challenges we faced (and overcame, or not?) might be humbling. We may feel that we've dealt with hardship before, and we can do so again. But it's difficult. I suppose writing helps.
Today I am grateful to see a gorillasaurus scout! 🦖Seeing beauty and meaning in every situation: YES.
I'm also grateful for the privileged situation I had throughout the pandemic. Articles like these certainly make me feel that. The existential gratitude thought sounds a bit daunting though, like answering the question "overall, do you like living?". No would be a troublesome answer 🤔
A MUST read! Too many lines to quote but here’s my favorite: “Gratitude is not just a switch to turn on when things go well; it’s also a light that shines in the darkness.”
Telling someone to “stay positive” in the middle of a global crisis is missing out on an opportunity for growth, not to mention likely to backfire and only make them feel worse.
Really enjoyed this article and all the links to what may be additional thought-provoking reads! I always appreciate a dose of Viktor Frankl.
🙏
I had never heard the term “toxic positivity” but I’ve sure felt what it means when someone has tossed it my way in the middle of a crisis. Ouch!!! Terrific read and now that term, “toxic positivity” is in my lexicon!!!
Excellent.
Imagining this quote should be used carefully so as to not slip into toxic nostalgia…healthy remembering is 👌. Also healthy to forget in balance.
A very valid point! No sense in idolizing the past. I think it is a bias of us humans to mostly remember the good parts from our past. But then again, the sentence before this one was:
Maybe, remembering where we came from, the challenges we faced (and overcame, or not?) might be humbling. We may feel that we've dealt with hardship before, and we can do so again. But it's difficult. I suppose writing helps.
Powering through. Seeing beauty and meaning in every situation.
Combination of stoicism and many other things I guess.
Fabulous read! You brought the light today!
Today I am grateful to see a gorillasaurus scout! 🦖Seeing beauty and meaning in every situation: YES.
I'm also grateful for the privileged situation I had throughout the pandemic. Articles like these certainly make me feel that. The existential gratitude thought sounds a bit daunting though, like answering the question "overall, do you like living?". No would be a troublesome answer 🤔
A MUST read! Too many lines to quote but here’s my favorite: “Gratitude is not just a switch to turn on when things go well; it’s also a light that shines in the darkness.”
Love this:
A perfect elaboration on this can be found in an other The Atlantic article by Arthur C. Brooks; "Those Who Share a Roof Share Emotions".
Here's one quote to save!
That quote made me pause for a moment to let it sink in. Definitely a quote to save!