Positive Thinking

[knglerxt]

I hear people keep saying you have to have a postive attitude. Why?

If all you've seen is the negative side of something, and you don't see any indication that it's going to change for the better, what reason is there to have a positive attitude?

I have to have some sort of reason. I can't go around with blind faith.

I've thought positively in the past, yet nothing happened. I didn't meet any women at all. I'm 24 now, and I've been single my whole life. This is the main reason I have such a problem with positive thinking. I think if I go around with a positive attitude now the same thing is going to happen: nothing.

 

[SilentOutlaw]

Positive thinking is an important part of overcoming anxiety. Where is negative thinking going to get you?, most likely nowhere but down. It is important to think positive, but it is only one peice to a complex puzzle. There are other things you need to work on and peice together before you can solve the big problem. Like improving self confidence. Setting a goal each week and putting forth an effort to achieve that goal could help, and every time you successfully complete a goal you might gain some confidence. It all starts with positive thinking, which can lead to improvements if you are willing to put in the effort.

 

[spicecontroller]

thinking positive is always good. i try to be more optimistic and not complain or bash myself or bash the situation.

 

[Derek]

I find that on days were I am thinking more positively, my anxiety isn't as bad and I tend to have more confidence in myself.

 

[cLavain]

Yeah, the point of positive thinking is rather obvious, both mentally and physically. There's a strong snowball effect for positivity and negativity. But I tend to be quite negative myself, so I know it's easier said than done. Anyway, the only way to really change things is to ACT!

 

[I_think_they_think]

I hear people keep saying you have to have a postive attitude. Why?

The beliefs you have internalised during your life create your reality. In other words, you perceive reality filtered through your beliefs.

In simple terms this means:
If you have a pessimistic view on life, you will tend to only see the bad sides of life.
If you have a positiv view on life you will see the good sides instead.


Read "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz and you might start to understand. The real world has nothing to do with how you perceive reality today. The book also lets you know how to change those beliefs.


Over n out

 

[I_think_they_think]

pessimisim does build character. So you have to make a sacrifice between what you think is happiness and your individuality. I'm still not sure which I want.

You make it sound like there could be something positiv about being pessimistic.

In what way does pessimism build character?

 

[Crazy]

...

 

[Septor]

pessimisim does build character. So you have to make a sacrifice between what you think is happiness and your individuality. I'm still not sure which I want.

You make it sound like there could be something positiv about being pessimistic.

In what way does pessimism build character?

When you are this way you have a feeling of nothing to loose because all is lost, therefore you have more freedom to think they way you choose.

Some pessimism is healthy but if you think every thing is lost then it will reflect in your surroundings and only set your own fate.That's not to say that you should blindly follow every thing positive but if you think pessimistic all the time you have already lost.

 

[Vincent]

negs

Is the cup half full or half empty?

I've found that its too hard to go from negative thinking directly to positive. Like social exposure, thinking can be measured. Gradually replace negative thoughts with rational ones instead. It's hard when life isn't making you happy on its own. Its a catch 22 really I think because the happier you are internally with your thinking the more external sources of happiness and positivity will come to you. I think the biggest example of this for me, is exchanging smiles.

Try to go rational with your thinking intially, later, there will be more external sources, and it will be easier to change from rational to positive.

You could try not watching the news, and instead replace that with comedy. See how many times you can laugh in a day. I think thats quite useful. Even if its dark humor... :twisted:

At the moment I'm battling with negative thinking too, its real hard. Because I am constantly dismissing my negative thoughts, I don't have any. So, I am sort of mute in conversation, at least for small talk. I've found that most positive people don't really want to be around negatives. It's because its influential. Alikes attract, so you will be limited to other negative thinkers unless you can change.

It takes time, about two months of constant work, to rehardwire your brain into new thinking patterns.

Own your thoughts

Good luck