The Power of Positive

Waleed Aly – made a powerful statement on Monday following the events last weekend in Paris. His message had 100 million views in the subsequent days. Madonna too in a concert in Stockholm only days after the event made an emotional plea: “these people want to silence us – and we won’t let them – there is power in unity!” The full statement at her concert can be seen here:

It takes something to see light – when things seem so negative.

How can we find joy, calm, gratitude, interest, curiosity, pride, opportunity, love, inspiration and awe? It takes something. When there are sad things going on it is even harder step up and be positive. How can one be positive – when there is so much negativity?  Do positive people see the good in everything?  Can they find the upside? It takes incredible practice to remain positive, be positive and to share joy…

Our fear or flight automatic reflex is at the core of human behaviour  – and this is amplified in times of stress and disaster. This tends to amplify the negative experiences more readily, typically recalling four negative memories for every positive one.

It is a time to choose positivity – even when you don’t want to. To notice and be grateful for what is wonderful. The small things in life.

Acknowledge the sadness, pain, anger – but move on to look for the small joys and acknowledge what you cherish. And lead by example for all those people around you.

In Waleed Aly’s words this week “preaching hate at a time when what we actually need is more love…” is not helping the world, it is hindering it.

And in Madonna’s words “Only love will change the world. we must change the way we treat each other on a daily basis in the simplest ways – Dignity Respect Love”

Embrace the power of positivity.