In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores the difference between genuine positivity and unrealistic optimism.

What I understand sounds completely logical is that there is a certain pattern in society today where people are encouraged to be relentlessly positive, to turn away from anything negative, and to avoid anything that is not optimistic or focused on the brightest side of life. It is always good to be positive, but it is also important to be positive in a realistic way, not in a toxic way.

What makes toxic positivity toxic is when, even while you are feeling bad about something, and when that feeling is something you need to digest within yourself, you tell yourself, “I must not feel bad. I must always have a positive outlook and an optimistic perspective on life.” This is not realistic. The further you move away from reality, the more likely it is that reality will return and have to be faced, and often it will be even more difficult to digest than if you had simply dealt with what was difficult in the first place instead of covering it over with positivity.

I prefer the attitude of Viktor Frankl. If you have not read his book Man’s Search for Meaning, I strongly recommend it. He speaks about a concept called tragic optimism. He was someone who understood this deeply, having survived three or possibly four concentration camps during World War II.

He understood that it was important not to pretend that the terrible things happening around him were not happening. Instead, it was necessary to remain fully aware of reality while also maintaining the determination to move forward and the intention to survive.

He found that the people who had something to live for were the ones who survived. Others, no matter how physically healthy or enthusiastic they were, often did not survive if they did not have something meaningful to focus on.

So it is very important for all of us to understand as much as we can about our own Svadharma, our personal path through life, and to continue trying to follow that path. Following that path is what truly creates positivity within our existence.

There will be many times in life when you are prevented from following that path, or when your understanding of what that path is will need to change. But as long as you continue seeking alignment with your own Dharma, the more aligned your prana becomes within you, and the more genuine your positivity becomes.

Then, even if you find yourself in a very difficult situation, you can continue moving through negativity without suppressing it, without pretending it does not exist, and without fighting against it. Instead, you can digest it and continue moving forward in the direction that you know you need to go.