Combating Negativity in Society

12-5-14

       We have become brainwashed by the media. Our minds have become tainted with the overwhelming pessimistic thoughts and attitudes that are constantly imposed upon us. Covers of magazines telling us we aren’t pretty, smart or talented enough. Pop up ads and website links enticing us to find out how we can improve ourselves flood our online experiences. Articles implying that everyone else is somehow better than we are prey on our insecurities and weaknesses. We become fixated on the images and stories that the media is broadcasting, but we don’t ever stop to wonder if it a true reality.
       Negativity has unfortunately become a common trend in our communities. Sadly, due to this increased negativity, it is estimated that one in ten people in the United States suffers from depression (“An Estimated 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Report Depression”). This is no surprise, however, because our expectations of others have been raised by the social media sites, magazines, and television shows with which our culture has become infatuated. These mediums tend to falsely portray people, or only focus on the good aspects of their lives. Now, people who are already insecure about their life look upon these portrayals and begin comparing their seemingly mediocre lives to other “perfect” ones. No wonder there are increasing rates of depression in our society. Instead of trying to make everyone perfect, I believe we need to focus on celebrating what makes us all unique. If we began taking steps towards eliminating this pessimism out of our lives, our society will be happier and have a better outlook for their futures.
       Social media, specifically Facebook, has become a big contributing factor to society’s depression and anxiety. Recent research by Leodoro Labrague, Associate Dean at Samar State University, proves, “high usage of Facebook, frequency of status updates, and update intensity to be negatively related to self-esteem.” People who are constantly using Facebook tend to be shy and live lonelier lives (Labrague). These people don’t usually post the sad and unhappy events of the day, but mostly the moments that make their life sound wonderful and exciting. They will only post a picture if they look good, and sometimes will even use special filters and editing to make themselves look better.
     
     Pages in magazines are often filled with photo-shopped models giving you advice on how to improve your body and life. Psychology researchers, Marian Morry and Sandra Staska, studied the effects these unrealistic expectations have on the human mind. They concluded that, “magazine exposure is associated with the internalization of the ideal form as thin for women and physically fit for men” which leads people to be more concerned with their physical appearance (Marian). These distorted perceptions of body size makes us dissatisfied with our own bodies and lowers our self-esteem (Marian). When I was in middle school, one of my good friends developed an eating disorder because she believed that she was fat. She was one of the skinniest people that I knew, but every time she opened a magazine and saw a flawless model in the centerfold, she became more obsessed with manipulating her own body so she could try and meet that unobtainable standard. What she didn’t understand at the time was that due to professional editing, not even the model in the magazine looks like she does in those pictures in real life. Her road to recovery began when she got professional guidance to help her understand that her thoughts were distorted and misled by false images of perfection. She was told to focus on the positive things in her life, starting with things she liked about herself and her life and not relying on magazines for inspiration. She started to eliminate the other things in her life that made her doubt herself.
       The stress of our day to day lives can also be overwhelming at times. School, work, relationships and money all build up pressure and make many people become depressed. In a study conducted by Jenn Carl, psychiatry professor at Boston University, the effects of depression were analyzed via online survey. The participants in this research were asked to write about something positive that happened to them every day, and then send their responses to Carl for analysis (Carl). The results showed that people who took the time to reflect on one good event every day, no matter how small, had significantly lower cases of depression and anxiety (Carl). While we might be overwhelmed with the negative aspects of the media, if we take a minute to step back and look at only the positive aspects, we will live happier and more fulfilling lives.
       The solution to this negative epidemic is simpler than we might think, and we can help our community overcome this trend. We can override bad thoughts by replacing them with good ones. April Durrett, editor for the Idea Health and Fitness Association, says that maintaining positive thoughts can actually improve our health and overall outlook on life. By keeping our head clear of negative feelings, we leave room for ones that will help us sustain a healthy optimistic attitude.
        I believe if we had places in public where people could write down positive messages, our society would generally be happier. With less than $10,000, we can build “Positive Stations” in parks around Laguna Niguel. These would be standard memo boards with a little roof and sliding plastic doors to protect the surface from getting wet in the rain. The boards are $285.00 each, push pins are $2.00 for a hundred, markers are $7.30 for a pack of 12, and paper is $52.00 for a case with 5,000 sheets. Placing one of each of these in Laguna Niguel’s thirty-three parks would only cost $9,763.90. People could write about something exciting that happened to them that day, a happy memory, a piece of advice, or even an inspiring quote. They could post about anything they wanted, as long as it is delivering a positive message. In the station, there would be pieces of paper, markers, and pins for them to use, or they can personalize their posts and use their own materials. At the love lock bridge in Paris, lovers put a lock on the bridge and throw the key into the Seine River to declare their undying love for each other. The Western Wall in Jerusalem is a holy place where men and women put their prayers in hopes that they will be answered by God. Your positive stations will reflect these iconic places, and serve as places where people can be hopeful and inspired.
       These stations will help culture a more optimistic community. In a study by researchers and

psychology professors, James Pennebaker and Richard Slatcher, the effects of expressive writing were evaluated in regards to maintaining healthy relationships. In their research, they had different groups of people perform various daily writing exercises in order to determine the extent writing positively had on their emotional wellbeing (Pennebaker). The results made it clear that writing down optimistic thoughts and ideas is beneficial to our social lives and cognitive health (Pennebaker). So by posting their ideas, and reading the good things others had to say, people will generate a better outlook on life. Emily Sohn, author and journalist for Discovery News, also agrees with this idea. She claims that by just writing down our aspirations, we create a positive outcome regarding our thoughts about the past, present, and also a new optimistic outlook on the future (Sohn). While many people will enjoy having this new opportunity to connect with their community, others might not be so keen on the idea.
   
  Naturally, not all people will be willing to write about their personal life as well as posting it for everyone to read, and some might choose to write about negative thoughts or events. However bad posts can be a good thing as well because others can give people who post negative things advice to help them either overcome hardships in their lives or inspire them to start thinking positively. According to Belle Cooper, writer for the Huffington Post and Time Magazine, “positive emotions are more likely to encourage people to plan ahead and think of actions they would like to take or activities they’d like to participate in the future.” Therefore, by steering people on the road to having a more optimistic attitude, they are more likely to reevaluate what they really want in life in order to make themselves happy (Cooper). Also, Karen Lawson, president of American Holistic Medical Association and Diplomat of the American Board of Holistic Medicine, states that, “helping others has been scientifically proven to boost your own mood and lengthen your lifespan” (Lawson). So, by helping others, people will then feel better about themselves.
       Despite the fact that negativity has become an unfortunate trend in our society, there is a relatively simple solution to help us overcome these pessimistic ideals. These “Positive Stations” will create a ripple effect that will encourage other communities to build their own as well.

 
Works Cited

"An Estimated 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Report Depression." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31 Mar. 2011. Web.      17 Nov. 2014.
Carl, Jenn. "The Effects of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms on Daily Positive Emotion Regulation." Journal of Psychopathology & Behavioral Assessment 36.2         (2014): 224-236. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
Cooper, Belle B. "How To Make Positivity a Habit: 4 Simple Steps to a Happier Everyday Life." Buffer Social. Buffer, 26 Aug. 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
Durrett, April. "Conquering a negative mood: having a bad day? Learn how positive thinking--and other mindful strategies--can help." IDEA Fitness Journal July-        Aug. 2007. Academic OneFile. Web. 16                            Nov. 2014.
Labrague, Leodoro J. "Facebook Use and Adolescents' Emotional States of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress." Health Science Journal, 8.1 (2014): 80. Web. 20 Nov. 2014
Lawson, Karen, MD. "Increase Positivity." Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing. Regents of the University of Minnesota and Charlson Meadows, 28 Aug.               2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
Morry, Marian M., and Sandra L. Staska. "Magazine Exposure: Internalization, Self-Objectification, Eating Attitudes, and Body Satisfaction In Male And Female              University Students." Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science 33.4 (2001): 269-279. PsycARTICLES. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
Pennebaker, James W. and Richard B. Slatcher. "How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Words: The Social Effects of Expressive Writing." Psychological Science           17.8 (2006): 660-664. Sage Journals. Web. 16 November 2014.
Sohn, Emily. "A Recipe for Happiness." Science News for Kids (2007): 1. Primary Search EBSCO. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.