Here's a thought stream that I've been finding myself in lately; so much so that I was actually intending on typing out this post last week, but found myself... I don't know how to describe it other than feeling that it needed more thought first. Stigmas, negativity, and even the duo combined. There's a lot that can be seen for both anywhere you look, whether it be an individual, or even a personal, view on nationalities, work, or even just seeing a certain state tag on the back of a vehicle who's driver probably needs to retake their driving test. And, if you let it, such thoughts can consume one's mind completely, even if it's unintentional.
To that end, I've been thinking of a thought experiment that, if I'm completely honest, I don't even know for sure if it'll work as intended. Think of the things in your life and split them: the good from the bad, positive and negative. How many of you started with the negative side first? Was it because you figured it would be easier to find the negatives? Or simply because you felt there would be more on that side? Before you scrap that thought though, try this: from the positive side, remove from the list the things that you could do without in a given day, even just for a moment. And from the negative side, remove only the things that, if they just happened to not be there one day, your day would feel... off. Did it balance out, or perhaps even find yourself on the flip side of what you originally thought: that you now have more positive than negative.
The point of the experiment is to try and show just how much more focus we can put on the negative in a given moment, to the point where we can overlook the positive that is right in front of us. And sure, I could say to try and see more positive every day, but I think some would agree that after some amount of time, even with the intention of seeing the good, we feel ourselves drawn toward the bad. Or perhaps, one particular bad just makes itself more difficult to ignore.
This is where I think some of the stigmas come in. I'd almost say the saying of "waiting for the other foot to fall" is kind of a stigma itself, leading to a negative expectation. It's as if that is our mind's default state, we see so much good, so we can't help but feel that something bad is just around the corner. Sometimes, I think, the expectation almost wills it into existence even. It's such a complex problem that I don't think there could be a catch all solution to it either.
It's reminiscent of the recent launch of Pokemon Sword and Shield even. There were loads of stigmas spreading through members of the community, whether by malicious intent or misinformation, and yet, having gotten mine about month into the release, sure, I could see some of the points made. But, in playing it, it still felt like a true Pokemon game to me. And that's the point, right? People saw the negative because they wanted it to be better, but what I think they didn't see just because something isn't better, doesn't necessarily mean that it's worse.
And perhaps that's the biggest stigma we get ourselves into. The subconscious idea that if it's not better, than it has to be worse. We get so caught up in trying to be better that staying the same feels like we are letting ourselves down instead of thinking the possibility that maybe, just maybe, at that point in time, the truly better thing is the stability of being the same. So caught up with the idea of greater or more that we lose sight of the have enough.
The best I can offer in resolution is this: that list from earlier? Take out the divides, maybe mix it up a little, then take a look at it. Really think about it when you answer one question: does it still make sense? Maybe just trade one or two things around? Sometimes the positive, good things we see everyday can get misplaced until you view it from another angle. And maybe, that new perspective you gain from that gives tell of your personal solution to the outcome.
Just a penny's worth of thoughts, for those willing to read them.
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