Optimism Without the Toxic Positivity | Joshua Tree

Two Climbers Don't Climb at Joshua | Forgetting Rule #6
A change of mentality might be the cherry on top, the thing to draw you out of my stress cloud and into more of the present.
Rather than constantly wondering “why am I still so stressed?” Try to say, “I need to stop taking myself so seriously.”
It’s Benjamin Zander’s 6th rule. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. It’s more formerly known as Rule #6, “don’t take yourself so damn seriously.”
In fact, I have a video script in my notes titled “I only drank water for a year.” Every now and then, I’ll pass this note when choosing my next video to work on, and I’ll think “why did I ever think that was a good idea? But then I’ll read the first line of text after the title of the script, where it says, “Remember rule #6”. I’ll chuckle, and move on.
But that’s in the context of my pastime, my creative work.
I’ve found it helpful to use this framed mentality for everyday life too. It’s a delicate balance between being succumbing to toxic positivity and recognizing the state of the world, the mental health crisis, the fight to stay afloat for basic necessities.
Though life carries an abundance of stress, it is also fleeting. Stress will weigh down what would otherwise be your calm and happy moments.
Don’t take yourself so damn seriously…