The world today often promotes and encourages us to maintain a "positive attitude" or to "think positively" at all times. While this may seem like a good way to manage stress and distance ourselves from the problems we face,

have we ever noticed that sometimes excessive positive thinking can become a trap that leads us to overlook reality and miss opportunities to address the real issues?

Having an optimistic outlook is beneficial, but often when we apply it without understanding, such as when we face failure at work, telling ourselves, "It's okay, everything will be fine soon," without analyzing or improving what went wrong, can lead to repeated failures. This may cause us to miss important opportunities to learn and grow from the situation.

This kind of positive thinking can quickly turn into "Toxic Positivity", or being overly positive.

"Toxic Positivity" refers to forcing ourselves or others to always look on the bright side while refusing to acknowledge negative feelings or problems that arise. This can distance us from reality, leaving hidden suffering unaddressed, and in the long run, it may lead to feelings of exhaustion or burnout.

Therefore, instead of thinking positively to escape problems, try shifting your perspective to think creatively and embrace the truth. Accepting that problems exist does not mean we are thinking negatively; rather, it gives us the opportunity to confront and genuinely resolve them through simple self-questioning techniques.

1. Ask yourself: What is the real problem?

The key is to reduce self-bias to allow us to see reality as it is. Otherwise, we may often find that some problems arise from ourselves.

Once you identify the problem, don't rush to jump to a solution. Keep asking yourself why this problem occurred. Eventually, you will uncover the root cause of the issue and the surrounding factors that contributed to it, leading you to a systematic solution. As Einstein said, spend most of your time exploring the problem thoroughly, and the solution will not be as difficult as you think.

2. Explore solutions: What ways can we manage it? Without hastily judging whether the ideas we come up with are good and effective enough, try to list as many as possible. You might discover a great solution if we refine and adapt it later. Additionally, these ideas can serve as backup options if the initial choices do not work. Remember, solving problems can sometimes be like basic scientific experiments; changing the variables will change the outcomes.

3. Seek help: If the problem exceeds your capabilities, talking or seeking advice from others is a good idea. We may have a limited perspective, especially when stressed, as the frontal lobe of our brain can become blocked, hindering creative thinking. Finding someone to help is not something to be ashamed of.

Don't forget that positive thinking or having the right positive attitude is different from self-deception. It is about seeking light amidst darkness while still acknowledging that darkness exists. Being in touch with reality, accepting feelings, and taking action to solve problems will help us grow and achieve lasting happiness.

May everyone use positive attitudes as a powerful force to navigate through challenges wisely.