I’ve been wondering what Threads (the Meta flavor) is for.

I want to like it because it helps me to continue to despise the hellhole that is FKA Twitter, but I just can’t vibe with it.

For instance, when I link over to Threads from Instagram’s cleverly placed enticements, I find it’s not a place I want to spend much time. I’m typically eager to jump back to my Instagram feed.

The biggest evidence of my avoidance is that Caanan and I have posted exactly once on our shared Threads account. 34 weeks ago we excitedly exclaimed “We’re here!!” only to post nothing since.

Not that either of us is posting much anywhere on social media; it’s all fraught. But something has been disappointing about Threads in its very own special way.

Laguna Torre, Patagonia, Argentina. Photo Credit: No Vacation Required

The Internet’s latest grievance system

And then along came yesterday… I overheard someone say, in reviewing social media apps with his friend, that “Threads is the place people go to complain.”

Yes. Yes. Yes. That’s exactly it.

The guy I overheard made me realize that I dislike the feel of Threads – probably because of the negativity and complaining. Nothing is a mojo killer in the way that unproductive negativity is a mojo killer. And, having just come off a multi-month post-graduate program dedicated to Positive Psychology, I can admit that I’m likely a tad bit sensitive to the subject.

Positive Psychology is non-toxic

Let’s get one thing out of the way… Positive Psychology is not toxic positivity, a term people frequently invoke when talk turns to positivity.

Toxic positivity, in case you need a refresher, is the idea that people should avoid feeling negative or difficult emotions and instead remain unyieldingly positive. Annoyingly so.

As Barbara Fredrickson, a leader in the field of Positive Psychology, says: “There’s a place for all emotions.” So, yes, all emotions should be walked through and felt. Moreover, some negative emotions serve critical functions, such as signaling potential threats.

So let me make this super clear: toxic positivity is just about as unhelpful as negativity.

Don’t be obnoxiously positive all the time.

There, that’s settled.

Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Patagonia, Argentina. Photo Credit:No Vacation Required

When it comes to mindset, positive emotions win out

Fredrickson correctly sees a “place for all emotions” But her research suggests that positivity works more effectively than negativity in most situations. More specifically, her research indicates that experiencing positive emotions, such as joy, gratitude, and love, can have numerous benefits, including:

Broadening cognition: Positive emotions broaden individuals' attention and cognition, allowing them to see a wider array of possibilities and solutions to problems.
Building resources: Positive emotions help individuals build psychological and social resources over time. For example, experiencing gratitude can strengthen social bonds, while experiencing joy can build personal resilience.
Undoing the effects of negativity: Fredrickson proposes that positive emotions can undo the physiological effects of negative emotions by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and recovery.

Positive emotions are healthy and E X P A N S I V E

Fredrickson taught a portion of my post-grad program and dropped some mind-bending knowledge. For instance, she shared how research shows that people perceive positive words as being in a larger font when read and longer when heard.

Also:

“We found that people who learned to self-generate authentic, contextually appropriate positive emotions were more mindful 3 months later. …They felt they had more purpose in life. They felt that other people were more supportive of them. So they built some cognitive resources, some psychological resources, and some social resources…” Fredrickson said.

And we see it time and time again in the work we do with our individual and corporate clients. Mindset is everything.

We regularly advise:

See, feel, and express the authentic good, bad, and ugly in everything. That’s called facing reality. But when moving into growth mode, let yourself bathe in the white light of positive emotions. This accelerates your growth.

I’m no stranger to complaining, but I rarely let it interfere with my mindset.

Feel everything and then reset.

As the brilliant Glennon Doyle urges: walk through the pain in order to experience the rising.

Try this for higher life satisfaction

Martin Seligman, another one of the pioneers of Positive Psychology, also emphasizes the importance of positivity and optimism for overall well-being. He suggests that cultivating a positive mindset can lead to better outcomes in various areas of life, including mental health, relationships, and achievement.

Seligman's research has shown that individuals who adopt a positive outlook tend to experience lower levels of depression, higher levels of life satisfaction, and better physical health compared to those who dwell on negativity. He suggests that focusing on positive emotions, strengths, and accomplishments can help individuals build resilience and cope effectively with life's challenges.

Positively attracted

My (dare I say) *negative* reaction to complaining dumps on Threads is likely due to my largely positive mindset and, quite possibly, the Upward Spiral Theory in action. The Upward Spiral Theory is a concept within Positive Psychology that describes a self-reinforcing cycle of positive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It suggests that engaging in positive activities and experiencing positive emotions can lead to further positive outcomes, creating an upward trajectory of well-being and flourishing.

It makes negative places, places you don’t want to be.

It makes negative people, people you want to spend less time around.

It makes negative conversations, conversations you don’t want to have.

The Upward Spiral Theory is supported by empirical research in Positive Psychology, which has found that engaging in activities that promote positive emotions, such as mindfulness, acts of kindness, and savoring positive experiences, can lead to long-term improvements in well-being and resilience. By consciously cultivating positive emotions and behaviors, individuals can initiate and sustain an upward spiral of well-being in their lives.

Let’s Upward Spiral

Something in me intuitively knows that Threads is getting in the way of my upward spiral. In a world in massive turmoil ain’t no-one got time for that. I mean, in November 2023, the APA reported that we are a “nation recovering from collective trauma.” And 24% of adults rated their average stress between eight and 10 on a scale of one to 10 where one means little to no stress and 10 means a great deal of stress.

So, again, feel all the feelings. That means you need to process unpleasant emotions, for sure. But maybe don’t dump them on Threads (where you can bet most everyone is dealing with the aforementioned stress). Or, at the very least, attach them to a positive mindset. Or, even better yet, take those unpleasant emotions away from social media and share them with a “safe” person – someone you have a degree of closeness with.

But then, whatever you choose, get back to the business of positive emotions.

And you can spiral with me. Upward spiral, that is.

Onward & Upward,