The Buddhist distinction between wholesome and unwholesome (or positive and negative) mental states is that wholesome states bring us closer to spiritual awakening, whereas the unwholesome ones obstruct such awakening.
By contrast, the Western approach contrasts emotions that are pleasant — positive — with those that are unpleasant — negative. The principle in the West boils down, it would seem, to whether an emotion feels good, while the Buddhist rule of thumb regards the emotion in terms of whether it furthers spiritual progress or holds us back.
— Daniel Goleman, Destructive Emotions