Trailer for Melancholia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzD0U841LRM
So, the movie left me thinking: What evolutionary advantage is there to having a negative outlook on life? Is our ability to experience pessimism actually a tool/asset conferred upon us to help us get through times of tragedy? Is it best to view our whole existence through a negative lens since we are then better able to cope with the many hardships and disappointments we will undoubtedly face in our lifetimes?
I am sure the answers to these questions depend greatly on our particular perspective at any given time since, after all, we are all subjected to the highs and lows that life throws our way. Our outlook on life is, more often than not, easily influenced by the specific details of our day, week, month.
For now, I continue to choose positivity and happiness. And I hope you do, too.
In the words of Swami Vivekananda (an Indian spiritual leader):
"If you think about disaster, you will get it. Brood about death and you hasten your demise. Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience."
1- Don't forget that it was a movie. It doesn't necessary reflect the truth about human behaviour in such circumstances. What do statistics say ?
ReplyDelete2- I am sure that spirituality helps accepting the idea of imminent death. I you are not scared, if you live with the knowledge that your death is part of your life, you don't need to have a negative mind to remain calm and accept your fate.
3- Have you read anything about the law of attraction ? like "the secret", or "the magic" ?
Other people than Swami Vivekananda have said similar words for centuries. Positive mind attracts positive things in your life. Negative mind is less powerful, but if you feel bad, the lack of happiness and gratitude brings bad things in your life. Even if Andre sometimes thinks that I am a little out of my mind, I can swear that what I said always works.
Enjoy your life !
Hi Carole,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I agree with everything you said!
I'm totally aware that it was just a movie and that it may not be accurate in its portrayal of depression and the human psyche (though I do remember reading a study or two in my Psychology classes that reinforced the idea that negativity can be an asset in times of extreme hardship because you already expect bad things to happen). I used the movie simply as a method of sparking discussion on this interesting idea.
I definitely agree with what you said about spirituality. But what about people who are generally positive but not spiritual at all? Perhaps they really do have a harder time coping with tough times than people who are more negative about life. I don't know.
Lastly, I have heard about the law of attraction, but I admit that I have a lot of to learn still and I will certainly check out the books you suggested.
Thanks for your insights!
Also, in case you were curious, here's a short post from Wikipedia about why the director (Lars Von Trier) wanted to make this film:
ReplyDelete"The idea for the film originated during a therapy session Lars von Trier attended during treatments for his depression. A therapist had told Trier that depressive people tend to act more calmly than others under heavy pressure, because they already expect bad things to happen. Trier then developed the story not primarily as a disaster film, and without any ambition to portray astrophysics realistically, but as a way to examine the human psyche during a disaster."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melancholia_%282011_film%29