Human beings are emotional beings with a highly sensitive nature; therefore our "emotional life" is extremely important, complex, and can sometimes be difficult to understand and manage. In her book "Positivity", Dr. Barbara Frederickson affirms that positive people perform better in life and also talks about the characteristics and the role that emotions have in our functioning, as well as the ideal balance 3: 1 (three positive emotions for each negative emotion) that we must try to achieve to function optimally and cultivate our well-being.
Negative emotions
Scientists have discovered that negative emotions trigger certain trends in our actions that have allowed us to survive as a species: fear is linked with the urge to escape, anger with the urge to attack, and displeasure with the urge to expel, and so on. successively. Since cave time, these emotions have biologically triggered certain reactions - such as the production of adrenaline - that keep us alert and drive us to "run" when we detect a danger of life or death.
Negative emotions are natural, they work like the light that comes on in the dashboard of the car and that “warns” us when something is wrong. The problem is that if we ignore them, negativity can hinder us, so we must learn to recognize them, accept them and do something about it when they arise. Suppressing negative emotions is never healthy, but it is definitely necessary to keep them regulated because their effects can cloud our perspective, disconnect us from the world and from others, and diminish our ability to solve our problems.
Positive emotions
Positive emotions not only increase our happiness, but also favor our "blossoming" as it is the ideal emotional state to develop our potential. Positivity expands us, opens our minds and hearts making us more creative - it makes us better because it allows us to build and discover new skills, knowledge, and ways of being. Positive emotions fill us with energy, connect us with the world, strengthen our ties with others and allow us to grow and visualize new possibilities.
It is easier to confront problems and adverse situations trying to rise to the challenges with "hope" than, to paralyze and shrink in "fear". Investing our time and energy in things and activities that produce positive emotions is investing in our future.
The ideal balance between negativity and positivity
Being natural negative emotions and contributing to our survival, we must understand that their nature is much more intense than that of positive emotions (generally ephemeral); negative experiences also last much longer than positive ones. For this reason, if we want to maintain a balance when negativity occurs and achieve our best condition to face adversities, it is best to maintain the appropriate ratio of 3 to 1: three positive emotions for each negative emotion.
To understand how this principle works, we will use the analogy of a ship: negative emotions, being natural and necessary, would be the hull of the ship that keeps us afloat and positive emotions would then be the sails that help us move it. For example if I am "afraid" I can work on it by focusing on my positive emotions of "hope" for the future and the possibilities, of "inspiration" to find a creative solution and of "pride" in my personal history and how my strengths They have helped me face other great challenges in my life.
Being in charge of our emotions and learning to generate our positivity are skills that will allow us to "navigate" through life successfully.
Source:
Positivity- Barbara Frederickson.
