Throughout the past decade the biggest trend in pop psychology has been that positive thinking, along with little effort, can get you all you’d ever want out of life. Many who subscribe to these philosophies (readers of books like “The Secret” and “Law of Attraction”), believe that one can wish prosperity and success into their life simply by will-ing whatever they want into existence.
Step 1: Think Positive
Step 2: Imagine what you want
Step 3: Keep the picture clear and distinct in your mind
Step 4: Wait?
Step 5: Profit!!!
What a great idea – if only it were that easy!
Perhaps what people find most compelling about these beliefs are that they require so little work yet promise such huge rewards. It’s sad to think what must go through someone’s mind before they are lead to believe such hogwash. But let me tell you now, as an ex-positive thinker, success isn’t as easy as these “professionals” make it out to be. Most not only severely over exaggerate the power of thoughts but end up leading their consumers down a disastrous path into bizzaro world.
Another common phrase of the new-age, pop-psych community is that you have the power to “create your own reality.” I believe in this to an extent, but differently than how most usually take the claim. Typically, people get hooked on the idea that their mind is the world. In philosophy of mind, this view is know as solipsism or the belief that there is no external world, just your internal one. I sometimes wonder why these people bother leaving their house at all. If our minds were that powerful, why not close your eyes and fully imagine the world you want to live in – and you can just stay there, right? You could hang out in Hawaii, sit by the beach, and drink margaritas into eternity.
What it boils down to, however, is most of us perceive life as having an external world, and even if it isn’t the ultimate reality of the universe it is still best we work within our senses and not within our dreams.
It is true that we can create our own reality, but it takes hard work, dedication, a strong will, and time – NOT just the “will” part. To create your own reality you need to first open your eyes and look at the canvas your God gave you. When you take out your red paintbrush and begin your art don’t tell us that it is green. When you paint a dog don’t tell us it is a cat. The answers to your reality are equally “out there” as they are “in here,” so be truthful and balanced.
If positive thinkers believe so strongly in the power of their will why not sit on a highway and will all the cars away so they don’t hit you? What about banging your head against a wall and will-ing it to go through to the other side?
Maybe these aren’t the best strategies for success. Maybe we should pay better attention to our environments and less time in our heads. I am not saying ignore the mind altogether; the mind is your map and compass. But what is a map and compass with no land to explore? At best, a pipe dream.
So my message of warning for all of you positive-thinkers out there: beware of your positive thinking! Instead of being positive, I recommend you be open, but critical. Learn to be flexible with the mind – play around with your perspective. It is fun to find the good in the bad but also to find the bad in the good. If you are only paying attention to the good side of things then how can you find room for improvement? Similarly, and this is congruent with the positive thinkers across the world, how can you be proud of your accomplishments if you only see the bad? It is evident – what we really need is not positive thinking but balanced thinking. On top of that, why not make it sharp, intelligent thinking as well? Why not have your thinking grounded in your observations and not in your fantasies? Could that be a better strategy? Think about it…
Addendum (7/4/09)
I found some scientific findings that confirm my sentiments made in this article. There was a study done by Canadian Researchers that shows how some Self-help ‘makes you feel worse’. Apparently the study tested what is commonly known in the self-help community as “Positive Affirmations” – basically – repeating positive statements in order to build a habit of more positive thinking. Unfortunately, those who had low self-esteem were found to feel worse after these statements and only those who already had high self-esteem were positively effected.
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