Found this really cool article from the Huffington Post and thought I might share it with you guys. Now the idea of positive thinking isn’t new to anyone, but what’s the deal with this sudden backlash against it?
Check out this article below as the author deals with this new wave of anti-positivity.
In my opinion, I think there’s a huge difference between wishful thinking and positive thinking and people sometimes mix up the two.
But what’re your opinions? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the whole concept of positive thinking and it’s impact on humanity as a whole. Drop a comment and pitch in your 2 cents.
Could You Just Get Over Your Negativity About Positive Focus?
By Russell Bishop from the Huffington Post
What is it about those Huff Post readers who seem to get all negative about the suggestion that having a positive focus just might help? I mean, really.
The demographics tell us that our readers are highly educated, and presumably intelligent, and yet I keep getting the most cynical replies from people who seem to keep missing the point.
(If you are just now joining this conversation, you might want to click on these links to some recent articles that will help set the context. This one asks you to consider what you want out of life, really. And this one asks are you doomed by your circumstances? And this one looks at the growing prevalence of people blaming society for the ills of the world.
So let’s tackle this head on.
What’s the Problem With Positive Thinking?
I certainly understand what the problem would be if the only recommendations were some kind of denial form of thinking. “Geez, isn’t racism great? How about that loss of life? Don’t you just love the recession?”
Who on earth could possibly believe that the point of these articles is even remotely related to this kind of ridiculous sentiment, and yet read some examples of what some readers have sent:
From an editor (yes, an editor!) of a significant western newspaper:
“You bring up many valuable points about the different ways we sabotage ourselves from getting what we want, but please know that, amidst the biggest economic collapse in 80 years, rising unemployment and two wars further sapping our resources, that NO ONE, not even the most puerile person, is going to believe that all they need to do to make a better world for themselves is to change their minds. Furthermore, this kind of subtext to your main theme in making one’s life better is insulting and unnecessary. These problems are real and they affect people’s lives daily.
If my goal in life is to live in a world without racism, for example, don’t pretend the phenomenon doesn’t exist in deeply embedded social and historical contexts. If your goal is to disguise these contexts, you should also know that we are onto you and yours. And in that case, good day and good luck on the ol’ snake oil circuit.”
And another wrote to say:
“We have been ruined as a nation by “the power of positive thinking”. Your answers are simplistic and really don’t apply to everyday living. People need to have a source of income in order to be able to have a roof over their heads and food on their tables. I don’t think you address this very well at all.”
Can you believe this? Are you kidding me? Ruined by positive thinking? Creating a positive focus and taking positive action is somehow “simplistic?” Pretend that racism doesn’t exist?
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It’s interesting to see how everyone is wired differently. Attitude seems to really pave the way to how we live our lives. I am a positive thinker. I don’t know why I am , It’s just part of my personality make up. I couldn’t imagine going through life being negative, not that negativity doesn’t have it’s purposes in life because it keeps us in check during certain times for example; We’ve had leaders in the world who have been accused of seeing everything with rose colored glasses. Also being negatively cunning can get you what you want but then you get into what’s good and evil, or malicious. I don’t think the most intelligent people in the world are negative thinkers but I don’t know. That’s a whole other story. I’ll keep my positive mind . I’m much happier that way.
How can a person positively love themselves rather than wish he/she did.
I believe that the people who do not believe in positive thinking need to start thinking positive and taking action. Actually applying what they read and hear.
The day Oprah spoke about the book/movie The Secret on her show I was changed for the better forever. I read the book, then watched the movie and loved them both. I started buying copies of the book and handing them out to people I felt could use it and be open to it. What a crazy mix of reactions I received!
I knew some people may not be ready for something so positive, but I am mystified at the anger it can stir up. I was talking to a “friend” about all the positive changes that I am experiencing in my life since I have been applying these techniques and she asked me to leave her house and has not spoken to me since.….….
I realize that she was not a true friend, and was wondering how others may be handling this type of reaction.
I am new at this and am looking forward to all that I can learn on this site.
Be happy
I think many of us from time to time become so mired in a world-view that we forget it is just someone’s “interpretation” of what we are seeing. We literally cannot see the forest for the trees. News outlets remind us on a daily basis we are in a recession. They give us facts and statistics to support their viewpoint so therefore it must be “real”. Soon that is all we see and forget there are many who don’t live in these same constructs. For example, what if we lived far removed from all our technological gadgets and our world consisted of tending to a few animals, raising a garden to feed our familiy and taking care of our home that was a one room hut and everyone else around us lived the same way? Words like “recession”, “racism”, “positive and negative thinking” would probably mean nothing to us.
I teach very young children on a part-time basis. I feel so blessed by these little ones because they show me another “reality” where joy and love are only a hug and smile away. Maybe those who are feeling overwhelmed by worldly cares would do well to spend some time with young children to remind them there is another way to perceive this awesome, mysterious, and beautiful world in which we live.
Better messages are probably:
Wa
Better messages are probably:
1. Learn to like yourself you’re no different from other people.
2. Walk your own path, don’t be influenced by others.
3. Be awake and aware of what is happening around you.
4. Become proactive and try to define achievable objectives. The more you achieve the more you can achieve.
5. Understand that the world is a nasty place, that will prepare you for the knocks that you will receive, like it or not; but try to remain hopeful & optimistic or you will become bitter and unhopeful.
I think positive thinking comes from this and first of all liking oneself.
’Fluffy’ positive thinking is not a good idea at all. Merely telling people to think positive teaches and achieves nothing. If you don’t tell people how to do it, then telling them ust to be positive only serves to make the ‘adviser’ feel better about themself.