We all have heard the proverb – “Glass Half Full or Half Empty?” That proverb is about our perspective. Our point of view towards things in life. We can choose to see it in a “half full” way, which means looking at things in an optimistic or positive manner, or we can look at things in a “half empty” way, which means looking at things in a pessimistic or negative manner.
Let’s take an example of two friends Rhea and Maya. Both of them are in high school. They have been given a school project and need to find a third person to do it with. The only person left in the class is Nina. They all start doing their parts of the project but Nina seems to be a little lost and in quite a lot of need of help and guidance. She texts and calls the other two quite a lot. Rhea seems to be very annoyed by this behavior and tells Maya that she finds Maya really annoying and wishes that she didn’t have to deal with her. Maya tells her that even if Nina needs a little extra help, it’s alright because at the end of the day, she does her work with precision and is only trying to make their project better and it’s better to have someone rather than having no one.
In this scenario– Rhea is seen to be a “half empty” or pessimistic person and Maya is seen as a “half full” or optimistic person. Rhea chooses to see the negative aspects of having to work with Nina which causes her to feel frustrated and annoyed. Such a thought process not only affects her mental health but also has the potential to strain her relationship with Nina. On the other hand, Maya chooses to see the positive aspects of having to work with Nina. She sees the importance of Nina in their project which helps her look past her behavior. She realizes that the only reason she may seem a little “extra” is because she is trying to help. This thought process of hers, helps her stay relaxed and might even help build a friendship with Nina.
We all are either a Rhea or a Maya. Every single day of our life, we are presented with a new set of challenges. Things we all have to deal with. What is important, is how we decide to deal with these challenges. Everyday, when we wake up, we have a choice to either let these challenges hold us back or face them with all our courage. Looking at our circumstances with an optimistic view, gives us strength to face them. They will pass. They will not last forever. But if you keep on avoiding them and keep on thinking about it like – “I can’t do it.” , you won’t be able to do it. Telling you to believe in yourself, might be a cliché, but it is also one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your mental health.
That all being said, when I urge you to deal with your circumstances in a positive manner, I do not promote toxic positivity. Sometimes things are simply bad and you cannot do anything to change it. In such situations, the “half full” part would be accepting the way things are and trying to move on to make them better for yourself and for others around you. Trying to make changes for the better. Being blindly positive though is not okay. It will only result in you hurting yourself when you snap back to reality.
Taking strides in order to improve your mental and physical health is important, but it is also equally important to identify the fine line between good mental health habits and toxically positive mental health habits. Ask yourself, are you a Rhea or a Maya?
By Aanvi Kesara
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