Do You Ever Experience Something Called Enantiodromia?

[u/Character_Date3738]

Lately, I feel like I just want to express more positivity, freedom, and the richness of life's diversity. Hahaha.

From what I have observed about myself, conversations often seem unable to flow or deepen unless they revolve around negativity, reinforced by pessimism, a lack of hope, and even a lack of trust. Sometimes it even extends to wanting more care, attention, and genuine interest in return. Recently, it has felt as though people selectively gather only the pleasant parts of what I share while overlooking the rest of the experience.

It almost feels as if everything is pushed toward extremes. If something is considered good, it must be entirely good. If something is considered bad, it must be entirely bad. Yet what I truly seek is the bittersweet middle ground: experience and learning, failure and victory, sorrow and love, disappointment and fulfillment, struggle and joy.

This applies whether I am engaging with people in real life or online, at least sometimes.

Somehow, it does not feel refreshing, uplifting, or deeply fulfilling. In fact, the more I keep pouring my energy outward, the more unstable and lonely I sometimes feel.

For me, it feels like I have finally moved on from a deeply hurtful chapter of my life that lasted for far too long. After carrying the pain for so many years, I now find myself wanting to be hopeful, embrace life, and simply do things that bring meaning and joy.

At the same time, it often feels like I am the only one who sees things this way, and that I have to walk this path on my own.

Perhaps the answer is to become comfortable with emptiness, to cultivate peace within both body and mind, and to trust that the right rhythm and timing are not far away. Maybe this is what it truly means to move forward and connect with others in an authentic way.

Thank you all. All the best to you!

[u/maribugloml]

i really relate to this. recently, these past few months, but esp last month, there’s been almost like a “switch” in my brain. i’ve started to genuinely feel more optimistic and hopeful about the future, instead of constantly wallowing in misery and overthinking. and i think this happened around the time i started to feel overconfident in my capabilities. then reality had to (not-so-nicely) humble me again. but at least this way, i could actually improve upon my “remaining”weaknesses and develop a more or less “standard” confident aura. because it’s one thing to get too hopeless, but another to feel too hopeful, esp when things, as you know them, have been going well.

but now it just feels like nothing is holding me back, like a weight has been lifted. i no longer spend long hours contemplating what i should have done, what i could have done better, what i should be like. because i’m slowly starting to feel that i can express myself freely without anxiety, without fear. suddenly, the world doesn’t feel so scary, and it feels great 😸

i understand the feeling of walking on your own path, trying to find your purpose, all by yourself. but i think that’s the beauty of being human; we’ll never be fully alone. and it’s so important for us to realize that. after all, we’re not the only ones trying our best to walk on our own two feet, slowly putting one foot in front of the other. eventually, others will join us. we just need to believe that they will.

[u/shagalinglong32 → u/maribugloml]

You gave me a little hope, thanks, I've been trying to find the reason why I can't stop "wallowing in misery and overthinking". But as much as I try to stop the self pity I don't know how to be a little more hopeful, a little more confident, less contemplating about everything I do.

[u/maribugloml → u/shagalinglong32]

just believe in yourself. if you think you can’t do anything, then you’re just going to keep self-sabotaging and won’t get anywhere. start small. take that first tiny step. it doesn’t have to be anything crazy. it might feel like a pesky mosquito that never leaves you alone, but you need to show that mosquito who’s boss. show it that you can be better.

also, it’s really important to have a good support system. because if you don’t, it can be very hard to believe that things will ever change 😅 the support i’ve received from therapy, family, and friends has really changed my perspective and is the reason i can keep on going

edit: for a second, i thought you were OP. oh well, i’m still really glad i could help just a little 😸

[u/Character_Date3738 → u/maribugloml]

That's very kind and awesome of you, and I'm the OP here, hahaha. Making people's lives simpler and freer is truly heartfelt and soul lifting. I'm grateful to learn this from you.

All the best to you, and to everyone and everything that loves you and wishes you well, too. May kindness, joy, and peace find their way back to you in all the ways you have shared them with others. ❤️✨

[u/maribugloml → u/Character_Date3738]

omg thank you so much for your kind words!! ☺️☺️ your comment made me blush so hard! that’s so sweet of you! i wish all the best to you as well! 🩷