The Bright Side of the Darkness

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Question: In undesirable situations, how does positivity affect individuals?
“Look on the bright side.” In efforts to consol those in undesirable situations, it is natural to urge them to be optimistic. Positivity is thought, by the law of attraction, to yield beneficial outcomes. As psychologist Barbara Fredrickson found the “tipping-point” of positivity is “the exact moment when you’ve got enough of it to outweigh the negative and help you to operate at your happiest and most successful” (Onderko). The task of keeping ones spirits high is not one that can be done easily, but sometimes dwelling on the negative can yield its own benefits. The individuals of Apocalypse Now, Heart of Darkness, and The Hollow Men, encounter moments were they have episodes of hardship and choose a positive outlook over a negative view.
A synonym for positive is progressive. Acknowledging the accomplished helps one to refocus on the problem at hand. In Apocalypse Now, Captain Benjamin Willard is given the task of executing Colonel Walter Kurtz on the basis of insanity. Willard finally meets Kurtz, when he arrives at his compound and he is greeted by “Kurtz’s children”. After killing Kurtz, Willard finds Kurtz’s manuscript that states “Drop the bomb. Exterminate them all.” Willard however doesn’t listen to these directions because he realizes that the natives are not his enemy. Willard has respect for the natives as seen when he tells the men of his boat not to shoot without reason, in previous scenes. Giving the natives the benefit of the doubt that they are not harmful, allowed Willard to focus on his mission and accomplish it.
Optimism can also be used as a coping mechanism. The Hollow Men gives off the vibe that the men are trying to deal with t...

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...s-Pedersen, “change is difficult and will cause reactions” (Ross-Pederson). How we deal with those actions is the important part, uncomfortable encounters force people to prioritize and adapt. Responding to situations that are not ideal in a positive manner, create novel outlooks and get to the real essence of the problems.

Works Cited

Apocalypse Now. Dir. Francis F. Coppola. Paramount Pictures, 1979.
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. London [etc.: Penguin, 2012. Print.
Eliot, T.S.. “The Hollow Men.” Poetry X. Ed. Jough Dempsey. 13 Jul 2003. 19 Dec. 2013
Onderko, Patty. "Tipping toward happiness: a renowned researcher offers timeless advice on getting more from life." SuccessNov. 2013: 40+. General OneFile. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.
Ross-Pedersen, Cynthia. "There is a positive side to negativity." Computing Canada 15 Mar. 1995: 11. General OneFile. Web. 18 Dec. 2013.

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