How Effective is Positive Thinking?

It’s easy to divide people into simple categories, isn’t it? For example, we could think of almost any individual and instantly assess them either as an optimist or a pessimist, depending on how we interpret their behaviour. Does that seem familiar to you? This tendency to oversimplify human characteristics inevitably ignores the subtler patterns of our complexities and contradictions. But it’s the kind of automatic shorthand we deploy to determine social utility and comfort levels within any relationship.

But if we’re not a simple reduction of opposites and narrowly-defined descriptions, we must inevitably express our variability by swaying between varying states of positive or negative moods, emotions and perspectives. It makes sense, doesn’t it? So, why is this question important to your happiness, your success, your productivity and your wellbeing?

Because - everything is connected.

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.

― Helen Keller

The purpose of this question is to consider the impact of harbouring negative thoughts and feelings - rather than purposefully developing an irresistibly positive optimism that will make you unstoppable.

 There will always be moments of fatigue, doubt, defeat and disappointment. These are the paving stones upon which we tread on the pathway to our goals. However, a negative viewpoint will see each setback as confirmation that we cannot fulfill our dreams. This is the toxic corrosion that erodes our hopes and blunts our inspiration. Whereas a positive attitude takes the setbacks as a sign of progress. Because, we tend to encounter the more challenging barriers when we’re driving forwards, pushing ahead to achieve our goals.

The setback is the same. The difference is in our attitude.

Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something is not to your liking, change your liking!

―Rick Steves

Clearly, the influence of optimism or a positive belief system can produce spectacular results. And the benefits extend throughout every imaginable area of our experience.

And that includes our health.

There’s a great deal of fascinating evidence about the extraordinary power of belief within the field of human medicine. When you consider the placebo effect and the inexplicable way that our bodies can overcome disease by taking a few harmless sugar pills, there’s clearly a very powerful mechanism at play. Belief is very much at the heart of whatever’s happening when the placebo effect reveals its undeniable effects.

Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because, unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so

―Noam Chomsky

The challenge is to accept that it’s extremely likely that you’re going to have moments of pessimism. It happens. And it’s perfectly fine to feel the pain and acknowledge the bitterness of a setback. But, rather than dwelling on the darkness and bleakness of the downside, you take a deep breath and you get back up and you get back in the game.

It’s that moment of turning your thoughts and feelings from the pain of defeat to the unquenchable fire of your desire to succeed that will transform your life. Because you’ll have learned to master the old knee-jerk pessimistic reaction and direct its energy towards the fulfilment of your dreams. Yes, the negativity will still show up occasionally but it will only ever be a pale shadow of its former self, a half-remembered feeling that you can dismiss with one breath. It loses its power of influence because you starve it of the emotional fuel it needs to control your feelings, your reactions and your beliefs.

Let’s celebrate this day’s shimmering potential by choosing to channel our thoughts and our feelings into the most positive framework we can imagine. Let the power of our focused optimism provide the laser-like clarity that cuts through our limitations and sets us free.

 Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen.

Keep in the sunlight.

―Benjamin Franklin

If you enjoy these blogs, you can imagine how much fun it is to have Greg in the room as an inspirational and highly perceptive speaker. If you’d like to invite Greg to talk to your company or organisation or event, either in person or via a live link on the Internet, feel free to get in touch.

You can contact Greg and his Team at:

gregory.s.parry@gmail.com