Develop a Negative into a Positive Picture

".....'develop a negative into a positive picture' is a line from my favorite song and ever since I heard that line when I was 11 years old, it has echoed throughout my life. That ideal of making the best out of a situation has led me to believe that everyone is entitled to the best life that they can live and we are all a work in progress."

This is how I began all my personal statements when I applied to master's and doctoral programs because the words have meant so much to me. As stated, when I heard this song ("Everything is Everything" by Lauryn Hill), specifically this line when I was 11 it resonated with me because of its powerful message.

While Lauryn Hill was discussing the barriers and injustice that many face with the outlook that everything will get better, I interpreted this song to mean changing your perception of a situation to see the silver lining or positive side of it. We can often look at life through a negative filter only identifying and enhancing the negative aspects. Life has non-enjoyable experiences however solely focusing on those moments makes us miss the good ones. In doing so we can develop a negative, hopeless outlook of our self, future, and world.

How can we work on this? Begin identifying when you are examining things with a negative filter and look for evidence to support or refute your claim. You could challenge yourself to identify all the positive aspects of a situation as a way to combat the negative filter and enhance, instead of diminish, the positives of a situation. These are only two of many methods to enhance your positive thinking and trying to modify your filter takes time and will not change immediately. Not all situations have a positive side however solely focusing on the negative and diminishing the positive could lead to increased mental health difficulties and a reduced quality of life.

-BB