When Positive Thinking Doesn't Work: Steps of Positive Thinkers

We've all heard it said, "Think positive, think positive, think positive!" The fact of the matter is that forcing ourselves to into positive thinking has very little value when it comes to making any permanent changes in our lives. Sure, we can force ourselves to think positive for a few minutes or a day but as soon as we encounter any type of obstacle, opposition, or friction, positive thinking goes right out the door. Or for those of us who are truly determined, we continue to try to force ourselves to think positive in light of the fact that we are not feeling positive at all.

But we must try to stay positive right? If we continue to think positive, sooner or later, we will become more positive and our lives will be better. Right? Well, that's what most of us have been told. However, the fact is that forcing ourselves to think positive, for the most part, usually results in frustration and losing faith in the power of thought.

The key lies in consciously re-creating yourself to become a positive person. Once you become a positive person the positive thoughts happen spontaneously. It is not something you force yourself to do but rather someone you have become.

Most of us operate on something I call "automatic" and we operate on this mode most of the time. When we are on this mode we are literally not con-scious of everything that we are thinking, saying and doing. We are operating from our "software for creation". The only way that we can truly think positive is when our "software" has become positive. That way there is no effort needed. That way, even when we are operating on automatic we are still producing positive thoughts, words and actions.

It all starts by becoming consciously aware, or going on what I call "manual" to discover the "conflicting software" or "bugs" that are keeping us from being positive. Then one by one we can reprogram these bugs so that our "software for creation" becomes more and more positive. This is not something that happens overnight, of course. The more bugs we are able to find and reprogram the more positive we become. The more positive we become the more we begin to react or act in a positive way without any effort.

I think this is exactly why people give up. They've been told to think positive and everything will change. At the first sign of a "problem" they realize that the only way for them to think positive at that moment is to force themselves to do it. Of course it doesn't feel right, creates frustration, and has the exact opposite effect of what was originally intended. The next thing you know this individual is thinking that this positive thinking "stuff" just doesn't work. This is a true-life tragedy, of course, because this person may never again realize, or make an attempt at applying, the true power of thought.

The question is not, "How can I think positive?" The question is, "Why am I not already thinking positive?" Why is my natural reaction to whatever event, person or experience expressed in a negative way? As soon as we start dealing with the answers to these questions we are getting closer to creating a more positive being, which will spontaneously create the positive thoughts we want in the first place.

We must remember that we create our world from the inside out and not the other way around. Trying to force ourselves to think positive when it's not what we are feeling inside is kind of like asking a cat to bark like a dog. Meow!

by Michael Carpenter

If you're searching for the definition of a positive attitude, or the steps of positive thinking, we hoped you enjoyed this article.

 


Share |

 

 


What do you think? Please enter your comments below.

 

 
By Shatakshi Mishra
2006-10-13 17:53:51
 

This section about positive thinking was very interesting, and it does work.

 
By v2
2006-10-23 10:27:24
 

I want more information on these topics. How does one develop positive thinking? Your little help can help me in scoring good marks.

 
By Mark
2007-01-29 17:33:25
 

I am interested in learning ways to increase positive thinking.

 
By Tesfu
2007-03-16 13:05:44
 

I couldn't get the definition of positive thinking.

 
By Admin
2007-03-16 13:10:10
 

Hi, Tesfu. There are many positive thinking definitions. Perhaps you can imagine a time that was "negative" for you. Even during those times, we can acknowledge how we feel, allow the excess energy to release from our bodies, get in touch with what's important to us, and turn toward that which we choose to create. Thinking positively isn't about hiding from hardship or pretending everything is always fun and easy. It's about thinking thoughts that keep us acting in ways that get us where we want to go.

 
By Anon(:
2007-05-19 00:12:46
 

Thanks ! This article really helped. I always tell myself to think positive, think positive. I always tell myself "I CAN, I MUST, AND I WILL". Why am I not already thinking positive? That really helped. Because I know I should think positive because I have the ability to do things. Thats why I should think positive !

 
By Henrietta Boles
2007-05-30 15:44:50
 

I am always uptight and argumentative. I need to find peace. I always argue with my boyfriend .

 
By Kirk VandenBerghe
2007-05-30 15:49:10
 

Hi, Henrietta. Are the parts of you who want to find peace being argumentative with the parts of you who like to argue. What is important to the aspects of your being who are uptight?

 
By Aleena
2009-04-08 18:12:07
 

I always wondered if some people are just naturally more positive than others, whether because of their upbringing or otherwise. For me, it's always been hard work, I can't really understand how do you become positive instead of forcing yourself? Or do you at first force yourself to be aware of your thoughts, and then being more positive just becomes a habit? Sometimes, it's scary, I can hear myself talk in negative ways, and I feel angry. And I am aware of what I am doing, but it's almost like it's involuntarily, like I am looking down at myself from above, realizing that I am being horrible but unable to change it, like watching an accident in slow motion.

 
By Admin.
2009-04-16 19:29:07
 

Hi Aleena, some people internalize things to such an extent that they begin to view the world in a narrow and quite often negative way. Try to be more open to new ideas and loosen up a bit. Try not to plan or force everything to be a set way. Step back a bit and just let some things unfold as they will. You will begin to see how wonderful just little surprises in life can be.

 
By Linda
2010-02-20 20:37:56
 

Could you please recommend any books to read on this topic?

Enter Your Comment or Question:


Name: (required)

E-mail: (required)

Security Code: (required)

Your e-mail address will not be displayed and will remain confidential.


 

Security Code to enter
Security Image

Please enter your comment or question below:

characters left    

By commenting here you grant circlesoflight.com a perpetual license to reproduce your words and submitted name/web site in attribution.

 

Page Protected by Copyscape - Do Not Copy  |  circlesoflight.com is © HeartCore Corporation 2001-2010