Sometimes the glass is half-full . . . of poison
When we are faced with brutality, cruelty, perversion, etc., it is NOT wise to dismiss it in with superficial optimism. Sometimes the glass is not just half-full, it is half-full of poison. Realism is important.
Real life can be awfully depressing
Unfortunately realistic attitudes are associated with depression. Not only do we have to confront exceptional nastiness on occasion, or for some unlucky people day-after-day, experiencing extreme unpleasantness tends to close use down psychologically.
Positive psychology requires us to recognize evil for what it is and to recognize opportunity, however minute
Positive psychology is about the processes that allow us to recognize what is evil and keep a clear mind, and conversely, to keep a clear mind and yet recognize evil for what it is. It is also about how to recognize opportunity, even if it is minute, when opportunity seems to have deserted us.
Today, I came across this quotation on Inner Edge on how to maintain some mental balance and perspective when life horrifies.
“Let fear soften us rather than harden us into resistance”
This is also a very attractive blog of poems with beautiful accompanying photos.
Someone you know fairly well and who has endured a trying experience in his personal life, finds your post inspirational. He also wishes to compliment the flow of your writing.
Your blog is curiously more artistic and literary than your conversation.
Thanks even with the backhanded compliment at the end!
[…] We may be rejected but it will help us little to go this way “I am learning to abandon the world before it can abandon me. Already I have given up the moon and snow, closing my shades against the claims of white. And the world has taken my father, my friends.” By Linda Pastan, a new poet for me. When we are out of sorts with the world, we must ask ourselves how we can change the conversation and fall in love with life again. When we are feeling bruised, we might also remember “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver. “You do not have to walk on your knees for 100 miles through the desert . . You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves . . Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh, and exciting ~ over and over announcing your place in the family of things”. UPDATE: I’ve just found this old post and link to a tremendous poem on living with fear […]