I’m not a big fan of positive thinking as a tool for self-help. I believe that used in the wrong place, at the wrong time, it can be just as dangerous as negative thinking. I’m rather a fan of what you might call strategic thinking in personal development: focusing on the positive or the negative, depending on what serves you best in the given context.
From my perspective, challenging economic times like the ones most of us are living right now, are just some of those contexts in which seeking help in positive thinking can cause some serious trouble.
In the past months, I have seen people loose a tone of money and bankrupt businesses by looking on the bright side and thinking positively. It can be quite shocking to see such a popular personal development tool have such negative consequences instead of providing the promised help.
Why do things like these happen? Because positive thinking means focusing on the good things and always expecting excellent results. In the face of big challenges, this is the equivalent of ignoring important parts of reality. It’s like blinding yourself while speed driving on a mountain road, during a storm, in a convertible. Why the hell would you wanna do that?
For the people I’m talking about here, positive thinking meant they ignored that the status quo has changed and doing what they did before will no longer get them the same results, or the same results where sometimes no longer possible. They blinded themselves to the fact they needed to adapt in a dramatic way. One man for instance, while being in a plummeting industry, convinced himself he can have the same sales numbers he had last year, if he just… tried harder. He called this “being positive”.
You cannot deny important facts and expect good results. Like it or not, we are in a global economic crisis, people have less money, they are spending less and there is more competition between businesses. No matter how good you are at what you do, this will have consequences over you.
Positive thinking is not a panacea, even if some trainers, coaches, speakers or authors promote it in this manner. It will not help you solve all of your problems and get everything you want, doing what you want, all the time. Being positive is a way of thinking which only has power to help you if you use it the right way.
There is a way of using positive thinking that can help you in challenging times. But it does not involve day-dreaming. It involves these two things:
- Realizing that even if some negative things may happen, even if you may not get your way now, it’s not a tragedy.
- Realizing that times change and in the long run, you will get your way and you can achieve your bold objectives.
That’s it. It’s strategic, realistic positive thinking. A more effective self improvement tool, that can help you handle the challenges of life both practically and emotionally.
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Excellent post Eduard and as you know I’m an advocate of embracing both the positive and negative because they are both as important as one another and serve a purpose. I’m working on a new post that ties in perfectly with this.
.-= Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..This Film Is Going To Be The Next ‘Secret’ And I’m In It =-.
I think you’re right. I also thin that fear, which is often associated as being negative, can be a powerful motivating factor when used properly.
.-= Gordie´s last blog ..Old Tianjin Is Destroyed. =-.
There is a difference between positive thinking and blind positive thinking. I think that effective positive thinking comes from drawing on past experiences (obstacles overcome, etc.) rather than assuming everything will work.
I hear what your saying Edward and your one percent correct, but the focus of positive thing should be about finding the positive and empowering angle. T as for the global economic crisis, it was only crisis for some…
well the majority but it was gold rush for others, many banks and investors lost out big time – But some banks went shopping “for banks” Some positively informed investors simply moved their money to invest the banks that are now winning , making record profit.
Your completely right about positive thinking because in saying all that I just said, their are some people who haven’t and didn’t adjusted to the climate and have tried to positively believe their way Out of the mess instead of positively think they way out
.-= Lloyd Christie´s last blog ..Time management, The art of Becoming =-.
Interesting post. Personally I view positive thinking the same way I view using affirmations. If a person has lost their job and has dept collectors at the door, sitting down and stating “I am a millionaire” over and over is not going to help. It is too far a jump from where they are to where they are wanting to be. It is the same with positive thinking, the thoughts you adopt during tough times should be in alignment with finding solutions. Be optomistic yes but also be flexible, open to new ideas and ways of doing things and be willing to accept and learn from the things that go wrong.
@Amit: thanks. So you to embrace both the light and the dark side of the force 😉
@Gordie: Right. Negativity, just la positivity, has it’s uses.
@Dave: There is a difference. I find it sad though that most people I know don’t understand it very well. They think positive thinking involves denying the facts, fighting you logic.
@Lloyd: Yeah, this is what happens when you use positive thinking the wrong way. Instead of getting help from it, it stops you from adapting.
@Carol: We’re on the same page here. I have the same problem with how positive affirmations are often used 😉
Keeping your problems in perspective and focusing on gratitude in an authentic and realistic way can be very powerful. But, There will always be things in your life that suck and you have to work hard to make your dreams and intentions into reality. Unfortunately, ‘positive thinking’ has become something of a buzz word and is often interpreted in a superficial, turn-that-frown-upside-down way.
.-= Meg at Demanding Joy´s last blog ..Hot & Dirty =-.
When we try to make an informed destination we must have the input from both sides of an issues, know the pros and cons, the good and the bad. When we let out selves be overwhelmed by to much optimism we are blinded to the faults and failures of a plan. While this is dangerous and we should remain grounded in reality, the pessimistic attitude is worse. The pessimist sits in the shadows and wails that nothing is wright and can not see how it can be made writ again. We need to walk the path of the realest taking the good with the bad and as a gardener cultivating the positive while weeding out the negative
.-= Quinn´s last blog ..When the possibilities are to much =-.
nice analogy.
.-= aDeeb´s last blog ..Rockstar101: Lost! =-.
I think that positive thinking is not the problem. Positive thinking works when what you think is truly positive, but if for example you are afraid of the recession, the your thoughts will probably work against you. Still, it makes extremely sense to take reality in consideration like you said here
.-= Oscar – freestyle mind´s last blog ..Interview With Dragos Roua =-.
Positive thinking is great but it should never replace action.
We need to keep abreast of changing climates in whatever industry we’re working in and learn new skills to adapt. And then of course we have to learn from our mistakes….quickly!!
Otherwise, positive thinking is like going to church once a week and thinking you’re all set.
Great post!
I also have my issues with positive thinking. I am a big believer in optimism and positive thinking when it is coupled with decisive action. But I think at times some people may use positive thinking as a replacement for the latter. When that happens it borders on delusion.
@Meg: That’s exactly my problem with the concept of positive thinking. It’s often interpreted in a superficial way. That’s no help.
@Quinn: I like to think of myself as a ration, so I also see looking ant the pros and cons as the best way.
@aDeeb: thanks.
@Oscar: Nice phrasing – positive thinking works when what you think is truly positive.
@One of the guys: I think that’s the problem. A lot of people use positive thinking as a way to do nothing. Which usually doesn’t help a lot.
@Ralph: It’s funny cause every personality test I ever took which measures optimism evaluated me as a very high optimist. I suppose it has to do with what I believe people can achieve in the long run.
“I’m not a big fan of positive thinking as a tool for self-help.”
Hello Eduard. I definitely agree with you. Facing problems is just like playing chess. You need all sorts of tactics and strategies to make it through. If you just stick to the kind of thought that says, “All right, everything will be ok… just think positive.” Well, you’re better off skating on thin ice. There is a law in cybernetics called “Law of Requisite Variety” which states that in any cybernetic system, the element or person in the system with the widest range of behaviors or variability of choice will control the system. I think that strategic thinking is exactly what this law implies. You have to know all and what your choices are. After all, you’re playing the game of life.
Peace and respect,
Ryhen
.-= Ryhen | Mind Power´s last blog ..Cause and Effect: How To Really Change The World =-.
Great post. I read Good to Great by Jim Collins and one of the things about Great Companies is that they weren’t afraid to face brutal facts.
Great post. I’ve written several posts on the dangers on focusing on just the positive. It takes a tremendous and continuing judgment to distinguish positive and negative, it’s exhausting, and in the end, what is negative in us doesn’t go away because we force attention on the positive. I’ve found it more useful to be still, allow, and release the negative.
Peace,
k
.-= Kaushik´s last blog ..Dark Night of the Soul — The Opportunity to Surrender =-.
@Ryhen: Yeah, I think a wider range of available thinking or behavior patterns works better. And it makes more sense to me.
@Adam: That book is on my to-do list for 2 years now 😉 I think I need a time management class.
@Kaushik: Now you made me curious 🙂
I do Eduard because I believe that they both serve a purpose in our lives. Our lives will never just be a storyboard of positive events. It will consist of both and it’s what we do with those experiences that count! 🙂
.-= Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..A Quick Guide To Dealing With Negative People =-.
I agree with what you say. Although positive thinking has its place, it’s not the end all.
Studies show that negative people are better at seeing things for what they are and overly optimistic people miss the truth by a long shot.
.-= Ken Kurosawa´s last blog ..What’s a Good Opening Pickup Line? =-.
I agree with your article, but I divide life in various aspects. For instance, being negative or true to yourself in a relationship will bring you down and your parter. In love you have to be always cheerful, honest, happy and 100% confident, even if things are going bad. In business its different, we have to be realistic.