The Pitfalls of Excessive Positivity
Excessive positivity can be perceived by others not so much as an expression of joy, but rather as an attempt to ignore or smooth over the real, even if seemingly insignificant, nuances of emotional life. This is reminiscent of how irritation is described in one of the sources, where it is stated that “irritation is a reaction to the trivial, the weak (or that which is equal in strength)” and that such a feeling may reflect a deep, hidden pettiness of character (source: link txt). If a person continually displays an exclusively positive attitude, it can evoke a sense of shallowness or insincerity, especially when others recognize that the world is full of complexities and that not everything can be portrayed in vivid colors.One might assume that excessive positivity creates a certain discrepancy between one’s outward behavior and the inner emotional experience. Those who perceive their feelings in a more multifaceted way and allow for the presence of negative moments may experience internal conflict when confronted with an overly one-sided view of life. This aligns with the phenomenon where, even upon achieving what one desires, a person may still find cause for irritation – as if true emotional balance requires space for the entire spectrum of feelings, and the attempt to be perpetually positive disrupts that harmony (source: link txt).Thus, overly positive individuals can sometimes provoke irritation in others, as their approach may appear overly simplistic and detached from the true emotional complexity of life, which many perceive as insincere or even hypocritical behavior.Supporting citation(s):“Even the slightest suspicion of danger, of the possibility of a counter-force, immediately removes irritation – the person either calms down or, conversely, becomes furious, yet the term 'irritation' no longer accurately describes their emotional state. Thus, irritation is a reaction to the trivial, the weak (or that which is equal in strength); it is perhaps the most trivial of all our emotions, and irritability is a sign of deep, sometimes secret petty character.” (source: link txt)“Better to be hot-tempered: one explodes, says a lot, and then steps back. But how difficult sensitive people are; they are resentful. A sensitive person is irritated by everything. Even if they get what they desire, then (since deep down they feel ashamed) they look for a new pretext – to flare up.” (source: link txt)