Some people are "naturally" positive... and yet it is possible that they (in their youth) are even attacked for the fact that there is a smile on their face... - why shouldn't anyone be allowed to simply be just happy ? why should happiness be exploited or suppressed?
Everyone is familiar with the phenomenon that when you smile at yourself in a mirror, your subconsciousness perceives positivity and you can eventually start to feel better.
Or move to a positive environment,
watching a positive movie, etc...
because you need a feel-good moment.
If at some point you want to put on a sour face, because you really do want to due to the circumstances you find yourself in, for example because something bad has happened to a friend, and you naturally want to show your sympathy... or maybe you are forced to on a societal level...
Then your subconsciousness will also perceive this negativity, and there is a chance that you will start to feel depressed too, if that is not already the case.
It also has to do with the state of sensitivity your body (and mind) is in. So, with tired, hungry, or sick people, such a mask can transmit the message to their subconsciousness much faster.
And yes, you can say: this is merely the other person's state, you don't have to take it on like a sponge, but that signaling is not that easy to change.
You can be "strong"... you can get over it quickly...
But it remains a fact you would do well to pay attention to it, especially if you are already sick.
It is not without reason that (sick/sensitive/empathetic) people shield themselves from a negative environment, from people who are only negative (about themselves or towards you). This protection against negative stress is very important to give your body (and mind) the space and the chance to recover. To get the feeling that you are allowed to live.
The body has a very strong self-healing capacity, but it does need your help.
Allow yourself positivity.
Allow your loved ones positivity.
But the amount and even the duration of conversation that someone can handle is different for everyone.
And only you can determine for yourself how much and when that is. Set your boundaries in a timely manner, in a dignified, and respectful way, both for yourself and for the other person. So that you can be taken into account with respect.
In this context of respect and the ability to deal with potential negativity in trust, lies the degree of connection you can or cannot have with someone. Does someone open up to you, yes or no...
And as for positivity:
Things you know/think/suspect you could eventually derive positivity from can also be your mask.
Give it a try, but within the limits you "think" your body can handle. And if that positivity ultimately doesn't materialize, because you have crossed your boundaries again unconsciously or even (once again) through forgetfulness... then you can try not to forget that the next time you want to test your limits.
And don't forget: any moment can call for different boundaries, either more or less . It is up to you to test this out. It is up to you to ultimately realize whether you have wasted any energy or ultimately gained some.
Building up won't do any harm, but over the longer term you ideally want to achieve a more positive state than before... keep a diary if necessary, because small increases aren't noticeable as quickly, but can ultimately give you hope that it really is possible.
Wishing you good health 💝 .
Jesse.
Positivity - English translations :
Letting-go-do-you-do-it-yourself-or-do.html
The-interplay-of-the-sun-and-our-body.html
The-wanderers-gaze.html
Nature-bathing-makes-you-instantly-happy.html
Benefits-of-real-organic-food.html
The-interplay-of-the-sun-and-our-body.html
The-wanderers-gaze.html
Nature-bathing-makes-you-instantly-happy.html
Benefits-of-real-organic-food.html
Negative
Sugar-causes-inflammation-blood.html
Legal text: This information is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for "professional" medical advice.
The text giving rise to the case:
My comment :
Very beautiful, except that I don't want to give up positivity.
For me, it is not a mask to the world, but an anchor to everything that ís beautiful, everything that matters.
If I have to put on a mask of dejection because of the environment around me demands it, I sometimes fall into an abyss from which it is difficult to escape. And I try to prevent that as best I can.
It might take a lot of practice. But it is more than worth it.
It is exactly the same that I prefer sparring about positivity rather than about negativity. Which preference used to be much worse.
Sometimes you can engage in confrontation or study it, especially to enhance your own insight into the matter, or as an expert by experience for half a century to share your own experiences.
Be careful not to get absorbed too deeply into that negativity.
From the medical world/psychology, it is constantly emphasized that you must not put on "a" mask (towards them or towards your fellow human beings), because that could be misunderstood as meaning that there is nothing wrong with you.
It is indeed entirely true that whoever stands opposite you, reads you by your behavior. If you then do your utmost to literally keep your head above water, that will, no matter how well they know you and how well they actually know what you can or cannot do, ALWAYS be understood as you being perfectly happy and in perfect condition.
So be careful with that.
But indeed, your health comes first, and a positive attitude could very well be your salvation, or at the very least your survival ability. Don't just give that away. Hold on to that.
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Additional reading on this subject based on the AI Google search function 2024 (I haven't read any of this myself yet)
There are several strong (psychological) articles that discuss this phenomenon — also known as emotional masking or a 'smiling depression' — in detail. For example, the article [Mask on or mask off? The pros and cons of wearing a mask](https://commen.nl/voordelen-nadelen-masker/) from the platform Commen specifically highlights the psychological dynamics and their impact on your identity. Psychologie Magazine also analyzes in the article The Double Message of the Smile how we consciously use facial expressions to control situations. [1, 2, 3]
Below you will find an overview of the psychological advantages and disadvantages of this 'facial mask'.
## The Benefits (Why we do it)
Social lubricant: A smile invites cooperation and prevents you from unintentionally burdening others with your negative mood.
Self-protection: The mask serves as an emotional shield to hide your vulnerability, fear of rejection, or insecurity from the outside world.
Functional survival: It enables you to continue performing professionally at work or in social situations, even though you are having a mentally tough day.
* The 'rose-tinted glasses' effect: Neuroscience research shows that forcing a smile (facial feedback) can give your brain a small signal to produce happiness hormones, which sometimes actually makes you feel a little better. [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
[1] [https://www.psychologie.nl](https://www.psychologie.nl/artikel/de-dubbele-boodschap-van-de-glimlach/)
[2] [https://commen.nl](https://commen.nl/voordelen-nadelen-masker/)
[3] [https://commen.nl](https://commen.nl/voordelen-nadelen-masker/)
[4] [https://minesandassociates.com](https://minesandassociates.com/the-mask-of-normalcy-smiling-depression-in-a-world-that-demands-performance/)
[5] [https://www.gezondheid.be](https://www.gezondheid.be/artikel/gelukkig/geforceerde-glimlach-werkt-als-roze-bril-31162)
[6] [https://yoeka.be](https://yoeka.be/achter-het-masker/)
[7] [https://coachjan.be](https://coachjan.be/blog/53566-durf-jezelf-zijn-zo-zet-je-jouw-maskers)
[8] [https://www.arenadental.be](https://www.arenadental.be/blog/een-glimlach-verbergen/)
[9] [https://www.psychologytoday.com](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-guest-room/201411/the-secret-pain-of-smiling-depression)
[10] [https://psycholoog.nl](https://psycholoog.nl/blogs/maskeren-bij-autisme-waarom-het-zoveel-stress-kan-veroorzaken/)
[11] [https://www.facebook.com](https://www.facebook.com/FacaVoceMesmo48/posts/met-een-masker-door-het-levende-mensen-die-altijd-een-glimlach-op-hun-gezicht-he/2117359698574973/)
[12] [https://www.theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/18/depression-smile-psychiatrists-mental-health-problems)
[13] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://translate.google.com/translate?u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smile_mask_syndrome&hl=nl&sl=en&tl=nl&client=sge)
