Mainstream self-help and superficial spirituality often treat positivity as the highest virtue. We are constantly told, “Stay positive.” “Think good thoughts.” “Manifest joy.” However, viewed through the lens of a more profound awareness, this unbalanced fixation on positivity alone is a crafty denial, as it ignores the reality that life emerges through opposites.

An unwise, ignorant supporter without higher consciousness is just a mask the mind puts on to hide from the uneasiness. It will tell you to smile through the pain, chant through grief, and paint a light overshadow. But spirituality is not about painting; it is about peeling. If you keep peeling an onion, what remains is just pure nothing. That is what spiritualism in awareness is all about: eventually realising that all that exists is nothing, or ‘Shunyata.’

Life is about perceiving things as they are, not as we want them to be. The ancient sages did not guide us toward positivity. They taught us to be aware. Awareness does not care whether a thought is positive or negative—it just witnesses without judgement. And in that seeing, the false disappears.

The mind rests not on false negation but on the totality. True peace comes not from being positive but from being here and now — with joy and sorrow, success and loss, love and loneliness. The awakened one does not always smile but observes each wave of emotion rise and fall without becoming attached to it.

People have regarded positive thinking as a beneficial and straightforward approach to achieving success, happiness, and overall well-being for a considerable time. Self-improvement literature and inspirational lectures on thinking positively and envisioning success surround us from every direction. Yet, while positive thinking may be quite helpful in some circumstances, the notion that positive thinking alone can resolve problems is, in many respects, a myth. The trouble with overindulgence in positive thinking is that it is often irrational and idealistic. It can cause emotional suppression, toxic positivity, and delusions.

According to the National Foundation for Science, our thoughts, which are 80% negative and 95% repetitive, cause emotional suppression. It shows that we need to be aware of this negative state of mind that rules us from all sides, characterised by jealousy, contempt, and excessive emotional desires, which justify our rightness and others’ wrongness. Pessimistic internal dialogue, selfish reasoning, and often expecting the worst results in every situation, especially what we see today. Many of us are happy seeing others unhappy.

Again, quantum physics proclaims that all that exists is nothing but energy, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics further claims that energy tends to move in the direction of increasing entropy, meaning in a disorderly fashion. So, do our thoughts recklessly and randomly fall into this or that for their likes and dislikes, which are inherently harmful due to selfishness and irrationally convincing due to our egotistic nature? What individual minds wish to believe, irrespective of their actuality?

A superiority complex, embedded in the subconscious or lower levels of consciousness, conveys that you believe you are superior to others, despite the reality being the opposite. The primary reason for such inflated negative egos is that we are ignorant about our third component, the soul, which is in addition to the other two: the body and the cognitive mind. The soul is that superconscious section of the mind, which plays a role in checking and guiding the mind from one moment to the next, operating from the silent zone where no thoughts exist, yet the soul remains aware by watching your thoughts. It makes the mind aware of how self-centred, harmful, damaging, and egoistic the subconscious mind is.

There are some thoughts that probably everybody can easily relate to; for example, I know I shouldn’t think this way, yet I can’t help myself—the reason why the self-improvement industry continues to flourish. New books on positive thinking often catch people’s attention with impressive titles, resulting in outdated concepts being repackaged in new covers. The size of the self-help book market on positivity is in the millions of dollars. However, this type of literature mainly focuses on changing one’s thoughts rather than the causes for why negative thoughts occur, not realising that the mind is an uncontrollable machine operating excessively in negativity purely for its ‘me and mine,’ in lust and greed for its self-gratification at any cost, where you cannot force any positive methods unless you awaken the soul sleeping within.

At this juncture, you need to know that you are not the mind; it is your mind. Don’t you always claim it as my mind and my thoughts? Also, always observe and read your mind while awake.

You require that soulful power to distract, dictate, and devote the other sections of the mind righteously. It means you need to cultivate not just a positive relationship, but first create a connection between your spiritual soul and your cognitive mind. When all three – body, mind, and soul – correlate in such a relationship, you immanently and intrinsically become awakened, confident, and constructive.

The concept of mindfulness teaches that thoughts are impermanent; they arise and dissolve as clouds move across the sky. Our minds are obsessed. They subconsciously produce thoughts, feelings, and cravings in autopilot mode, one after another, dictating the logic of our every action and imprisoning our true selves within our multitasking, randomly and recklessly operating minds, driven by their likes and dislikes. As a result, according to neuroscientists, the human mind functions on autopilot in sub- or lower consciousness, with around 95% of thoughts operating in lower consciousness rather than higher consciousness and responding more to emotional desires.

However, insight and introspection through the soul teach us that the mind is an instrument for us to use, not to be used by it, weaning us away from all those selfish thoughts we unknowingly and unquestioningly depend on. Then, we do not need to identify or cling to our thoughts as often as we do subconsciously.

Science is naive and ignorant about the soul and the spirit, the metaphysical reality of how we are spiritual beings experiencing human life. It primarily deals with physicality and desperately tries to understand the functioning of our metaphysical mind, which is consciously functioning within the brain. Much more than positive thinking, it is spiritual-ness that is imperative; otherwise, science and technology shall continue to destroy more than what they create through various means of cyber warfare, deforestation, ecological disasters, etc., disrupting and wrecking air, sea, land and now with the inception of AI, further ideas of annihilation will increase.

The so-called Homo Sapiens (who appear wise) or the super intellectuals will continue to boast about the power of positive thinking, claiming it can do wonders to bring harmony and peace to the world. Depending only on positive thinking, you might miss the essential truth, which includes devoting yourself to hard work, necessary preparations, and proactive backup plans.

Develop the ability to notice your thoughts, feelings, and even the conversations within yourself without judgement; watch and witness, but do not get involved. Choose which task to engage with and which to disengage from that automatic mode. These steps enhance the essence of mindfulness and meditation. Do not artificially or falsely create an optimistic state of mind, as this may lead to the denial or suppression of genuine emotions. Though positive thoughts are helpful, insisting that you should always look on the positive side or saying, “Just be positive,” may be detrimental.

Life is full of challenges, and we must be rational rather than optimistic. We should face every challenge head-on with courage and confidence. Advising depressed or confused people to be positive, indirectly conveying your worries or problems, may worsen the situation. You need to confront and tackle those issues of adverse mental conditions and circumstances that cannot be brushed aside merely by positive talks or affirmative thoughts.

Furthermore, having optimistic thoughts won’t be enough to solve your financial and health problems. Positivity alone cannot solve problems that require remedial attention and action to find practical solutions. Positive thinking attempts to suppress or set aside negative emotions, unaware that negative emotions often draw your attention directly to the problem at hand and the need to solve it immediately. Positively imagining or thinking that issues will get solved on their own with time is an escapist attitude and may later lead to more significant psychological stress. Instead of maintaining a false facade of positivity, being rational and realistic in your thinking process is much better.

Please do not take positivity to extreme levels; it undoubtedly enhances well-being, but it can also lead to denial of reality and false expectations. A balanced approach is necessary, allowing for both positive and critical thinking to address life’s challenges in an ethical, practical, and realistic manner. People who perceive reality as pragmatic are more realistic about the hurdles they face and take more effective actions to reach their targets by finding a middle ground. It is vital that positive thinking be considered only in addition to hard work and logical actions.

Additionally, it is essential to note that positive thinking is not entirely an illusion. We should approach positive thinking with a pinch of salt, as it has limited practical value. Positive thinking can improve motivation, flexibility, and emotional health when used in moderation. Unfortunately, the reverse can also happen when you assume that simply having positive thoughts will solve problems, which is not only naive but also incorrect.

For this reason, while positive thinking has some advantages, there is potential for abuse and adverse effects, especially in an inappropriate context. People often experience adverse effects when they take positive thinking too far, turning it into obstructive optimism, which focuses solely on the most desirable outcomes.

Positive thinking leads to a generalisation that needs to be emphasised—even though positivity helps improve one’s well-being and resilience, exaggerating or misusing it can lead to emotional suppression, evasion of factual situations, unrealistic expectations, and excessive positivity. I contend that there is a great need to balance optimism and pessimism back to a safer level. Individuals should always face adversity through a struggle of will, toughness, and righteous action.

The way the human mind perceives reality and perceptions is very different. Reality is far more complex and multi-layered than what we perceive. It is essential to recognise that the so-called “real world” diverges from the understanding one might develop based solely on perceptions. For instance, cognitive distortions, emotions, and censors hidden in the psyche, as well as environmental pressure, can work against it. A significant portion of the information we perceive is often beyond our conscious awareness. For example, you will notice that many of us hide our inner emotions without realising it. We usually pretend and exclaim positively, “I am very positive, happy, and helpful to everyone, trying to project how perfect you are when, in reality, you may not be in that state at all,” or say, “I am very spiritual, soulful, sensitive, and sympathetic, when you may just be the opposite, not even knowing the meaning behind the word spirit, spiritual, or what the soul is.

Therefore, if utilised sensibly, positivity certainly improves well-being and overall resilience. Still, poorly exerted or taken too far can result in emotional blindness, disengagement from reality, ideological attitudes, or toxic positivity. A more rational and realistic viewpoint that reasonably considers negative feelings and constructive thoughts deserves more weight in dealing with various aspects of life.

Hence, genuine positive contemplation begins by acknowledging the truth in all its actualness. It includes accepting bad experiences or negative feelings as necessary and still maintaining enough optimism to carry on.

NAMASTE