Let’s Talk About: Negative & Positive Expression
When referring to a flower essence, you’ll often hear the comparison between negative and positive expression. Some people might find this quite helpful in identifying with certain descriptions as this can help decide which essence is right for them, and others might be quite off put by the idea of labelling certain traits negative, especially if they were developed out of the result of something beyond their control, for instance: childhood trauma, abusive partners, or natural disaster.
In navigating this, it might be helpful to keep in mind that these traits are not describing you as negative, but the impact it has on both yourself and others. Many of us might recognize these unhelpful/negative traits, and in our hearts want this to stop, but sometimes it can feel like the emotional reactions or patterns make it difficult to change.
Our brains like predictability, and even when it comes to negative reactions, we resort to those because we already can predict the outcomes or response. It feels safer, even if in reality it actually isn’t. Our neural pathways are constructed this way for ease and organization, which is often why we might see behaviors repeating themselves even in different relationships and experiences.
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You might have had a previous manager who was quite shut down and it was difficult to approach about your concerns at work. In your new job, despite having a much warmer and more receptive manager, you still might hold out on speaking to them due to anticipating your previous managers reactions.
This is often where we can feel stuck and dissatisfied in our lives. The encouraging news is that neural pathways can be redirected towards more positive and rewarding responses, with a bit of consistency and acknowledgement. We do not want to shy away from noticing our ‘negative traits’, however we also do not want to dwell on them.
Once you resonate with a particular essence (or more!), it can be beneficial to acquaint yourself with its positive expression. This might already show up for you in some aspects of your life, and please acknowledge this! If they don’t already, this can serve as a way of reframing the negative traits you experience. Read the descriptions and apply it to your life.
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The Centaury person in their negative expression might struggle with saying no and have a tendency to put others needs above their own. In their positive expression, they acknowledge that their needs are equal to others, and that if they do everything for everyone else, they don’t allow them the space to learn for themselves.
The intention of labelling traits as positive and negative is to help navigate through all of the essences to find which resonate with you. Some people find it useful to select based on which essence is calling out to them, and others might need to read each in depth to decide what they are needing - and at times, one might do either or!
They are also meant to be words of hope, for a lot of guilt and self loathing can accompany the association with negative characteristics. Seeing that there is a positive expression on the other side of these feelings can help one feel more complete as a person - that they are not condemned or stuck in one narrative.
How to shift the negative expression into positive
Flower essences - wonderful allies in moving forward from the negative expressions, as well as tuning into the positive expressions when needed.
Talk therapy - can help to recognize patterns and redirect neural pathways.
Watching TV/Movies - seeing characters you relate to move through challenges or go through their character development arc in a healthy and realistic way can help inspire and demonstrate ways of moving through our own challenges.
Journaling - gives you space to reflect upon your actions or thoughts and with this awareness it can be easier to interrupt unhelpful patterns in daily life.
Letter writing - with the intention of not sending the letter, write to the person who you are have difficulties with, and then write a response from them giving you the words you’ve needed to receive.
By no means is this list exhaustive, simply a few ideas to get you started if feeling stuck and wanting to take some actionable steps. We can only make changes when we are ready, and sometimes that means listening to a little inkling that you want things to be different. Even acknowledging the possibility of improvement is a step towards feeling better.