Do you ever wonder…
Why does positive thinking matter?
Can my mindset, positive or negative, impact achieving my goals?
Can I become more positive?
Yes, mindset is maleable!
My Interest in Positive Thinking…How it All Began
Believe it or not, my interest in goals and affirmations began when I was in middle school. Even then, I was always drawn to books on mindset.
My grandmother’s collection of Norman Vincent Peale books and pamphlets created a small obsession with Peale’s message on the power of positive thinking. Even now, I clearly remember pulling down the attic steps, climbing up into the attic, and reading some of the pamphlets that she kept upstairs. (The attic was always a place of solitude and discovery for me; that is, until we found a bat in the attic…but that is another story for another time!)
While I am sure that many of you reading this have never heard of Norman Vincent Peale, he was quite well known. A widely popular minister, Peale also authored 46 books. He is most well-known for his book, The Power of Positive Thinking, which sold over seven million copies. Even though Peale died in 1993, well before our cultural obsession with Amazon began, this bestselling book currently rates 4.5 (out of 5 possible) stars and has just under 1000 reviews of the book .
Peale’s message always emphasized the importance of overcoming self-doubt and believing in yourself. He preached climbing above problems by visualizing solutions on attaining your goals.
Some of my favorite of Peale’s quotes, can be found in the quotes throughout this post. (Feel free to print them and place them in locations where you will see them. I like to place them in books, in drawers, on mirrors, in my wallet, etc.)
Research on the Power of Positive Thinking
Of course, everyone didn’t agree with Peale; they thought that positive thinking did have meaningful impact.
However, research has shown that positive thinking really can have an impact.
For instance, Scheier and Carver’s (2013) research, cited several studies that showed that “optimists routinely maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic.” They also cited research showing that optimism has also been shown to benefit physical well-being. But WHY? Scheier and Carver (1993) found that optimists:
- Cope with stress in more adaptive ways than pessimists
- Are more likely to take direct action to solve their problems than pessimists
- Have more focus when dealing with adversity than pessimists
- Are more likely to rely on active coping techniques in dealing with stress than pessimists
- Are less likely to avoid dealing with stressful situations than pessimists
Of course, there is also the work of Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto on the impact of the positive thoughts and words on water. What the Bleep Do We Know even featured Emoto’s work, which involved separating water into 100 petri dishes, each of which was frozen and then either praised or scolded. Later, Emoto looked at the images under a microscope and discovered that the frozen water that was exposed to negative thoughts and words lacked symmetry and beauty. In comparison, the water that was exposed to positive thoughts rearranged into beautiful crystalline structures. (Disclaimer: While Emoto’s The Hidden Messages in Water was a New York Times best seller, his work is often criticized for his lack of experimental controls when conducting his research, calling the validity of the results into question by some experts.)
So how do I Change my Thoughts and Become a More Positive Thinker?
Luckily, there are many resources to help you become more positive. Experts such as Jack Canfield (of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame), Zig Ziglar (Although deceased, he is still revered.), Brian Tracy (motivational author and speaker), Oprah, Rhonda Bryne (author of The Secret), Wayne Dyer (another deceased but well-respected leader), etc. have books that can help you master your mindset.
There are also several simple ways to begin to limit negativity, and increase positive thinking. Five ways to increase positivity include:
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Meditation.
Meditation helps you get clear. It will help you to become more focused on what it really important and make you less likely to dwell on what isn’t so important.
You will be more positive if you become more reflective, taking time to be quiet and focused in your own thoughts. However, if your attempts at meditation only bring thoughts of your favorite snack, try using a guided meditation on positive thinking; it will really help steer you into a positive mindset. The Insight Timer app, which I discussed in a previous blog post on meditation, has some great options for you to try.
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Surround yourself with positive people.
““You are the average of the five people you spend your time with”
I don’t know who the original source of the above statement is, but I know that Jon Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur on Fire uses it near the end of every episode of his podcast. He says it to remind his listeners that they should constantly surround themselves with people who will inspire them to take action to meet their goals.
If you want to meet your goals, don’t surround yourself with negative people who will put or keep you in a negative mindset. Instead, surround yourself with positive people who will help elevate your thoughts and inspire you to take positive steps towards achieving your goals.
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Perform a Random Act of Kindness.
Nothing can change a negative attitude faster than knowing that you did something to help make someone else’s day (or life) better. Plus, it makes the world a better place to be.
So make it a point to perform a random act of kindness whenever you can; buy a coffee for the stranger behind you in the drive-thru at the coffee shop, make a donation to your favorite charity, do something unexpected to help a loved one, send someone who has made a difference in your life a thank
you card, send a card to someone you love for no reason, etc.
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Read positive quotes.
There is something to that old adage that states “Seeing is believing.” Try posting some positive quotes around your home, office, and auto. Use the ones from this blog, or create your own favorite quote images at a website like Quozio.com; you will start to shift your mindset to a more positive paradigm.
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Smile.
Smiling can have a big impact on you; for instance, it can be a predictor of how long you’ll live and can even have a measurable effect on your overall well-being. Want to learn more? Watch Ron Gutman’s TED Talk on the Hidden Power of Smiling (below).
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