Why do people expect you to be happy/positive?

[sserafim]

I've never understood this. I guess I'm a pessimistic person by nature. I hate society's expectation to be happy, positive and optimistic though. You have to always smile and put on a happy face, regardless of how you feel inside. It's like…kind of draining. I'm just not a positive person, but people expect me to be positive. It's annoying tbh. It should be okay for me to be negative

 

[Eternal Eyes]

Probably just their mask or some other kind of facade. People are usually told to not appear depressed or unhappy, as it makes them seem "weak". At least that's how I viewed it growing up.

 

[sserafim]

Probably just their mask or some other kind of facade. People are usually told to not appear depressed or unhappy, as it makes them seem "weak". At least that's how I viewed it growing up.

My question though is: why are people attracted to positivity, happiness and optimism? My mom got mad at me for being depressed before. She said that I was bringing the mood down and causing her to be depressed as well. Why is there an innate avoidance of negativity, sadness and pessimism? It seems to repel people

 

[kinderbueno]

My question though is: why are people attracted to positivity, happiness and optimism? My mom got mad at me for being depressed before. She said that I was bringing the mood down and causing her to be depressed as well. Why is there an innate avoidance of negativity, sadness and pessimism? It seems to repel people

For most people, being positive, happy and/or optimistic not only makes them feel better but also distracts them from the cruelness of this world. It's basically a coping strategy in my opinion. I'm sorry to hear about what your mum said to you :( I know how you feel, my mum says very similar things

 

[sserafim]

For most people, being positive, happy and/or optimistic not only makes them feel better but also distracts them from the cruelness of this world. It's basically a coping strategy in my opinion. I'm sorry to hear about what your mum said to you :( I know how you feel, my mum says very similar things

It's okay. I'm not depressed anymore, I just find the optimism bias strange tbh. I'd rather have the cold, harsh truth than false hope and false positivity, but I guess each to their own

 

[ijustwishtodie]

I think it's a coping mechanism to deal with wage slaving. If they didn't act positive all the same, they would consider roping and that would go against what the elites want. They can't handle negativity because realism and pessimism are so close to aligning perfectly in a venn diagram

 

[tsykoais]

My question though is: why are people attracted to positivity, happiness and optimism?

because that's what society tells them to be even if they aren't. people are told to hide their despair, parade their happiness and alienate/run away from anything different.

 

[kinderbueno]

It's okay. I'm not depressed anymore, I just find the optimism bias strange tbh. I'd rather have the cold, harsh truth than false hope and false positivity, but I guess each to their own

yea i know what you mean, the truth can't be sugar-coated forever

 

[ringo99]

Because they don't understand or want to understand what you're going through and become frustrated. Then they take it out on you or ignore you completely. I prefer the latter

 

[lnlybnny]

I understand your perspective, but I wish I my brain could see more of the positive aspects of things. Even when great things happen to me my brain finds a way to find details that aren't positive, attaches itself to it, exaggerates it and makes me feel miserable. I wish I wasn't like that, it's too much suffering

 

[onbekend]

I agree. It should be perfectly okay to be negative. I hate the idea of forcing emotions on each other, It only worsens things.

 

[divinemistress36]

Being negative makes people uncomfortable, nobody wants to face the shadow side of themselves