The Truth About Positive Thinking

There is a whole movement devoted to the power of positive thinking. There is a movement devoted to bacon, too, so I guess it is not such a big deal. But once books get written and experts arise, the waters tend to get muddy. So here is the truth about positive thinking.

Why it works

Here is why positive thinking is good and often effective. When you are thinking about positive things you are not focused on negative things. I think we can all agree that always seeing the negative side of life can really get you down. Focusing on the positive helps you to be more upbeat and energetic. Also, with positive thinking you are often thinking ahead to the future. That is obviously a good thing. Planning makes a lot of things possible, after all.

What is wrong with it

The only thing wrong with positive thinking as a way of life is that people take it too far. They banish negative thoughts and will not even deign to consider the bad things that happen or could happen. This is not realistic. You do not have to ignore the bad things in life to maintain a positive attitude. In fact, it is unhealthy to do so.

Positive thinking should not be about ignoring the negative things. It should not be about falsely banishing bad emotions and thoughts by not acknowledging their existence. Instead, true positive thinking looks at bad things in a different light. To have a positive mindset is to find the good in every situation.

How you should think

Here is what works for me. I maintain optimism by thinking about and being thankful for all of the good things I have. When my kids are being a pain, I take a moment to appreciate that they are part of my life. I also try to take an optimistic look at the future. I know that there are endless possibilities for success out there. I also know that each one will take a lot of hard work. I can’t just envision my way to success (and neither can you).

When bad things happen, or even more commonly, when I lose focus and have to deal with stress, I sometimes get in a funk. The best way out is to look forward, not backward. A life spent dwelling on the mistakes of the past is a life poorly lived. I agree that you should look more to the promise of the future than the heartbreak of the past.

Beyond that, I have learned how to find enjoyment in pretty much everything. There is much to enjoy in life, though sometimes it takes paying attention to the details. When you find enjoyment, you will find that you have a much more positive outlook on life (and you won’t have to fake it).