The Positivity Initiative

As this flood of fasts sweeps the country, I see that it is less about not eating and more about an opportunity for people to make a statement under a leadership. I have no clue why people can’t simply have normal protests food and all, but I suppose it is also easier to organize protests without the question of official food for a crowd :p I don’t know.

Anyway, I am starting an initiative called the positivity challenge. I think, a large part of our dissatisfaction in society is overwhelming negativity and cynicism coupled with contempt and dismissal of differences. I believe that consciously making a sacrifice of those petty superiority and criticism will allow us to see what else is there. How else we can be, and it will give us a first hand experience if it is a more useful way of being.

This is how it began. All the talk that has happened so far:

Ok. Here is a one day challenge. 24 hours without saying anything negative. On twitter. Can you do it? RT to spread word. Reply to join.

When i say nothing negative it includes RTs, sarcasm, criticism, hate, ridicule. 24 hrs midnight tonight to midnight tomorrow. Can you?

Lol. Not tweeting at all doesn’t qualify. But think of it. Better than fasting for cleansing negativity. Challenge yourself.

I don’t assume to say that it is better, though I suspect it is.

However, if the first time goes well, and there is participation, I would like to make this a regular feature. Regular one day “events”, as people find them easily doable, extending them to longer periods… I don’t know. We can take it as it goes. The beginning is that we are able to do this at least once 🙂

Tonight midnight onwards – 24 hours – till tomorrow midnight. All day tomorrow 18th September 2011.

Can you?

Listen to the rules:

  • No negativity. This obviously doesn’t mean the absense of the word not when it makes sense in a sentence, or if you are a professional you don’t refuse any applications, etc. But no criticism, no sarcasm, demeaning, complaining, criticizing, insulting, disagreeing, etc. No negativity to direct at people.
  • Ideally, no negativity in any aspect of your life, but for practical purposes, at least in your social networking life.
  • Not tweeting at all, etc doesn’t count. Normal frequency of interaction. Minus the negativity.
  • Many people thinking out of the box on this one, so I’ll update rules on the fly :p

How to prove? Frankly, you don’t. This isn’t a school test. Your interactions are public, and we can see them. It is a matter of honor. I take your word. I trust you.

Comment below so we know you’re participating.

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30 thoughts on “The Positivity Initiative”

  1. Hannah Imogen Jones

    Oh my friend. I let myself go for a day or two and relay some sadness in my thoughts. I know, whilst at the same time that my sadness has been real – that this sadness isn’t ‘real’. What I mean by this: Of course I have been feeling a little sad! Yet have been reminded of my own mantra which I regularly give to others!: ‘These struggles are the gifts ~ That allow our souls to lift’. So every time we feel sadness, pain, anger, despair – these are the challenges presented to us to allow us to transcend them – and grow again. They are therefore our most wonderful gifts – these times and moments of pain. Who else other than a friend – other than you, could pop up at exactly the right time with this reminder?!

    Yes. It is essential that we focus on the positive.

    The positive is the only thing that can drive out the negative!

    The light is the only thing that can drive out the darkness!

    Whilst I am not saying of course, that we shouldn’t feel these negative emotions that sometimes pervade… it is a reminder not to let them take over.

    And when we can all join together in a concerted effort to be positive – to be wonderful – to be beautiful towards each other, ourselves and humanity – that’s when the real miracle can take place.

    The thoughts inform the emotions. The emotions inform the thoughts. The thoughts and emotions inform the behaviour. The behaviour affects everyone around us. The translation of the behaviour is in the language we use. The language we use has a knock on compounding effect on ourselves and those around us. And so it goes on.

    Thank you!

    Wise woman of this earth!

    I shall rejoin twitter when I do – and for the next 24 hours I give you my word to be only positive again!!!

    Please, everyone, listen to this Mother of the Earth. She speaks some sense! But you already know that!

    So I look forward to communicating with you All in nothing but love, peace, harmony and positivity!!

    Long may it continue.

    We can make the World a better place 🙂

  2. Hannah Imogen Jones

    Oh my friend. I let myself go for a day or two and relay some sadness in my thoughts. I know, whilst at the same time that my sadness has been real – that this sadness isn’t ‘real’. What I mean by this: Of course I have been feeling a little sad! Yet have been reminded of my own mantra which I regularly give to others!: ‘These struggles are the gifts ~ That allow our souls to lift’. So every time we feel sadness, pain, anger, despair – these are the challenges presented to us to allow us to transcend them – and grow again. They are therefore our most wonderful gifts – these times and moments of pain. Who else other than a friend – other than you, could pop up at exactly the right time with this reminder?!

    Yes. It is essential that we focus on the positive.

    The positive is the only thing that can drive out the negative!

    The light is the only thing that can drive out the darkness!

    Whilst I am not saying of course, that we shouldn’t feel these negative emotions that sometimes pervade… it is a reminder not to let them take over.

    And when we can all join together in a concerted effort to be positive – to be wonderful – to be beautiful towards each other, ourselves and humanity – that’s when the real miracle can take place.

    The thoughts inform the emotions. The emotions inform the thoughts. The thoughts and emotions inform the behaviour. The behaviour affects everyone around us. The translation of the behaviour is in the language we use. The language we use has a knock on compounding effect on ourselves and those around us. And so it goes on.

    Thank you!

    Wise woman of this earth!

    I shall rejoin twitter when I do – and for the next 24 hours I give you my word to be only positive again!!!

    Please, everyone, listen to this Mother of the Earth. She speaks some sense! But you already know that!

    So I look forward to communicating with you All in nothing but love, peace, harmony and positivity!!

    Long may it continue.

    We can make the World a better place 🙂

  3. I am in — always.But I am a well-meaning  critic. There is no such thing as positive criticism.B.Raman @SORBONNE75:disqus 

  4. I am in — always.But I am a well-meaning  critic. There is no such thing as positive criticism.B.Raman @SORBONNE75:disqus 

  5. I think you follow the wrong kind of people on twitter and the wrong kind follow you. Been on twitter for more than a year now, have a good set of people I interact with and the only negative comments that we interchange are maybe a service not being provided by a company or govt dept. There are so many good things in life to share than negativity.

    You need to introspect, maybe it’s your views that people don’t like and react the way they do

    @Shamit

  6. I think you follow the wrong kind of people on twitter and the wrong kind follow you. Been on twitter for more than a year now, have a good set of people I interact with and the only negative comments that we interchange are maybe a service not being provided by a company or govt dept. There are so many good things in life to share than negativity.

    You need to introspect, maybe it’s your views that people don’t like and react the way they do

    @Shamit

  7. You begin your “Positivity Initiative” with disparaging sarcasm “As this plague of fasts…” – reeks of negativity. Anyway, negativity is a matter of perception. What u consider negative, I may not & vice versa. My crit here, for example, will be considered “negativity” by you according to youf rules, which I, of course will not agree with.

  8. You begin your “Positivity Initiative” with disparaging sarcasm “As this plague of fasts…” – reeks of negativity. Anyway, negativity is a matter of perception. What u consider negative, I may not & vice versa. My crit here, for example, will be considered “negativity” by you according to youf rules, which I, of course will not agree with.

  9. A difficult proposition but game to try this one out. Negativity comes in many forms sarcasm is not negative. It has positive expression negative connotation.

    Shud be fun wud love to try this out for sure.

  10. A difficult proposition but game to try this one out. Negativity comes in many forms sarcasm is not negative. It has positive expression negative connotation.

    Shud be fun wud love to try this out for sure.

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