Personal growth: Some thoughts on positive thinking May 11, 2018
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in personal development ideas.Tags: life, negative thinking, personal development, philosophy, positive thinking, psychology, Riichard Carlson, solving problems, the power of moods, writing
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In his book, You Can Be Happy No Matter What, Richard Carlson offers a critique of the “positive thinking” concept and suggests that, “A positive thinker is constantly under pressure to produce only positive thoughts, which takes enormous effort and concentration, leaving little energy for new and creative thoughts.”
Carlson’s opinion in this respect, is based to a large extent on his view that positive thinking’s opposite, negative thinking, arises mostly from our moods, in this case, being in a low mood.
The low mood makes our negatives thoughts seem very real because while in a low mood we will find it very difficult to see the world from anything but a dark, depressed viewpoint.
A key point Carlson makes is that whatever it is we think about, such as a financial challenge, it will be easier to find solutions when we are in a higher mood as our minds will be more clear and open to more possibilities.
The problem itself does not change, but solutions are not likely to appear very easily, if at all, when are thinking is clouded by a dark mood. And when in these dim moods, no amount of forced positive affirmation will make a solution more likely.
Carlson emphasizes, “The only feelings you will ever experience in a low mood are negative feelings; thus it makes no sense to trust or act on those feelings.”
Postpone your problem solving efforts because “The solution is to wait until the mood rises, which it will, on its own. The less attention you give your thinking in your low moods, the quicker your mood will rise. And at that point, and that point alone, your wiser feelings will surface.” (1)
(1) Richard Carlson, You Can Be Happy No Matter What: Five Principles Your Therapist Never Told you, New World Library, Novato, California, 1997, 141 pages.
Carlson, an author, psychotherapist, and motivational speaker, died at the relatively young age of 47. There is a short article about him on Wikipedia; here’s the link:
How optimism can sometimes hurt your personal growth May 4, 2018
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in personal development ideas.Tags: achieving goals, Hope, inspiration, life, optimism, personal development ideas, personal growth program, philosophy, positive thinking, psychology, self-actualization, writing
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It would be difficult to explore any particular personal growth program or system without encountering a discussion of optimism, a discussion which will usually extol the need for, and benefits of, optimism; but can optimism have a downside?
The word optimism is derived from the Latin, optimus, meaning the best; and in thinking about this topic further, I found a number of definitions of optimism, one of which is:
“The tendency to take the most hopeful view.” *
That seems like a practical and productive attitude.
Another one, which I think requires more of a fatalism-based belief approach, is:
“The opinion or doctrine that everything is for the best.” *
The latter is more of a reach than taking a “hopeful view”
Regardless of which definition we might prefer, they both appear to be present-time or now-focussed. Whatever is happening, we take either a “hopeful view” or tell ourselves “It is for the best.”
But I think in most cases, our optimism is future-focused and that is where we can get into trouble.
“This is bad, but it will get better.”
Maybe it will and maybe it won’t.
If it doesn’t get better, and we bet on faith that it will get better but don’t take action steps to ensure a positive outcome, we are missing an opportunity in the present to improve the situation.
Alternatively, “This is good and it will continue to be good.”
Again, faith without productive actions will likely disappoint.
Optimism can be a rational and a productive attitudinal foundation for our efforts towards self-actualization and personal improvement, but…
…optimism has to be based on a commitment to action, or it will likely fail to result in positive outcomes.
* Both definitions are from Webster’s Scholastic Dictionary, Airmont Publishing Company, Inc., New York
—Dennis Mellersh
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