Enough of positive thinking?

1. 59

   magdielqrposted 14 years ago

   I recently read an article about the book "The Secret", which made me pause to reflect: Positive thinking really help? You can get rich with just positive thinking?
   
   <URL snipped - no promotion of Hubs in the Forums>
   
   What is the opinion of you on this subject?

   replyreport
   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      No, of course you can't. "The Secret" is based on a concept that's been around for a long time.  All the writer did was leave out a crucial piece of the formula.
      
      The original formula (which works) was:
      
      "Conceive - believe - achieve - receive"
      
      The Secret's version is:
      
      "Conceive - believe - receive".
      
      In the first version, you have an idea, believe in it and in yourself, then go out and do something to make it happen - then you'll get what you want. 
      
      In the Secret's version, you have an idea, then it's just a case of believing in it, and it will happen.  Clearly that's bunkum, but of course the Secret's proponents won't admit that - if it doesn't work for someone, they just say, "you didn't believe hard enough"!   
      
      The bottom line is, it does help to approach action with a positive outlook - but a positive outlook alone won't get you anywhere.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         EYES CHAMbERSposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         This is my exact opinion on "God". He is not there to create miracles for us and he deffinately isnt there for us to just to believe in hard enough and what we want will come true. In my opinion, he is there as a symbol of hope and that faith will give strength to our minds and we will then be set to DO IT OURSELVES!

         replyreport
   2. 62

      Daniel Carterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      There may be some value in the principles of the Secret. However, life is not about fooling yourself with a bunch of positive attitude nonsense, being in denial of the reality of your life. I think we do attract a lot of things by buying into our fatalistic, negativity and victim mentality. However, I think the key for me is to keep moving forward with my interests and passions of life and be curious at all times about where the road will lead next.
      
      For me, it's curiosity about what lies ahead that trumps all this positive self talk mumbo jumbo. If you predetermine the outcome in all cases, you also miss some of the scenery and some of the lessons. Curiosity is an amazing tool for me.

      replyreport
   3. 0

      shazwellynposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think that if you cast a spell - a thought is a sort of spell - this this might come true.  I knew a guy who wished for £10,000.00.  He got his money within 6 months.  He had a motorbike accident and got it from the insurance compensation.  Unfortunately, he is still in a wheelchair and is registered disabled.  The moral of this story is, be careful what you wish for.  Positive thought is about, first do no harm, because what might be positive to one person, has a negative impact on another.  Does this make sense?
      
      Shaz x

      replyreport
      1. 58

         gabsunsetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes it sure does..
         
         www.sunsetmobilityinc.com
         
         gabriel

         replyreport
   4. 59

      Dark knight ridesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The power of positive thinking is that it helps you develop a very clear and specific goal of what you want to achieve. And if that goal is kept clearly in mind at all times, you'll find that the things you do as part of your daily life will move you closer to that goal. It's nothing mystical, it's not a spell. It's being focused and making decisions that always take you in the direction you want to go.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         shazwellynposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Well, this is just another way of saying the same thing.  Some people might call it spells, some people might call it 'direction', some people might call it positive thinking or even psychology.  It all amounts to the same outcome.  There are many routes to Damascas, this is just one of them.  Love, peace and harmony, Shaz x

         replyreport
   5. 46

      LRobbinsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I read the Secret as well.  What I like about it is that it makes you focus on what it really is that you want out of life.  By doing this I find myself unconsiously taking steps to achieve my goals and will therefore by more likely to achieve them.  However, I don't buy into the idea that the universe will grant you whatever wish you want.  I also found the book really annoying to read, the way it was laid out and with all the repetition.

      replyreport
2. 61

   hoodieweatherposted 14 years ago

   There's nothing wrong with being positive. Just don't let the positivity blur the reality of things.

   replyreport
3. 94

   wannabwesternposted 14 years ago

   I think that if your negativity leads you to inaction, then it can be quite restrictive. Similarly, if your positive thinking leaves you open to life's gifts, then it isn't just mumbo jumbo.
   
   Maybe adding in an element of being honest with yourself would help. I agree that we can't just use positive thinking to gloss over our problems. I have my share and they weren't all created by me. Ignoring them doesn't make them go away.
   
   Cheers all!

   replyreport
4. 61

   sannyasinmanposted 14 years ago

   The Secret along with all the others books whose authors have jumped on the gravy train, is nothing new, and is is certainly not a secret. This is a Universal Law of which there are many.
   
   Esther and Jerry Hicks have been teaching the Law of Attraction for at least 10 years. They have written books about it, held seminars ( I attended one in 2001), but they did not try to get rich from it with catchy titles and slick marketing. Theirs is more of a spiritual perspective.
   Also, it has nothing to do with being deserving, or why you want what you want.

   replyreport
5. 58

   Sexy jontyposted 14 years ago

   So let's talk about negative thinking

   replyreport