Why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.
Below 8 short points why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.
Russell Bishop from the Huffington Post on why it doesn’t work. Lifehack give us 4 reasons why positive thinking doesn’t work. Laura Newcomer Senior Editor at Greatist on the subject. Mark Morgan Ford mentions a study by Julie Norem. None of these writers addresses the ‘faith factor.’ About the ‘believe’ factor. It is written men shall not live by bread alone. Perfect Peace.
Why Positive Thinking doesn’t work.
I make no secret of my love for the Word of GOD. Last week I wrote how my faith and reliance on the Word of God helped my family when we had to move house and weren’t able to find suitable accommodation. After praying and relying on the Word of God we received so much more than we ever imagined possible.
I like to share with you a little more about my history. I used to study Wicca, mythology, mysticism, various Eastern religions as well as every New Age practice under the sun, particularly the New Age positive thinking kind.
What I discovered is that positive thinking is the only way to go as long as this goes hand in hand with regular reality checks. But the crucial factor is that positive thinking on its own doesn’t work. Well it didn’t for me. Why doesn’t positive thinking on its own work? The following is what people in the know have to say about this.
Russell Bishop, author of ‘Workarounds that Work,’ wrote for the Huffington Post ‘Why Positive Thinking Just Doesn’t Work.’
Our friends at Lifehack give us 4 reasons why positive thinking doesn’t work and what to do instead.
Laura Newcomer Senior Editor at Greatist tells us that the trick is finding the balance between being optimistic and being realistic.
Mark Morgan Ford mentions a study by Julie Norem in her book The Positive Power of Negative Thinking.
All of these writers came to the same conclusion and that is that positive thinking on its own doesn’t work.
None of these writers address the faith factor.
Interestingly enough, none of the writers mentioned above address the faith factor. What it boiled down to for me in my life is that I discovered that many of the ‘New Age Thinking’ is as ancient as the earth but has been rehashed and regurgitated without the faith component. This may indeed work for some but it does not work for me.
About the ‘believe’ factor.
For instance the ‘believe’ factor is huge in New Age positive thinking and religious faiths alike. My book shelves were littered with dozens of how-to manuals telling me to ‘Believe and it will be so.’ Believe in what? Myself? That goes without saying doesn’t it? The universe? Believe in who or what?
What this kind of positive thinking is lacking is the support of HE Who is in Charge. If your objectives and endeavours aren’t blessed by our Creator you’re simply wasting your time. That is if you plan to ultimately end up in a good place.
Jesus says ‘Whatever you believe in your heart will be so.’ He says this to His followers, the people who believe in Him.
See, that’s the kind of instruction manual I can work with. Jesus says, follow me and then when our heart is being remodeled to do good for humanity as opposed to be self centered, we can ask Him for anything at all and the promise is that our Father will hear and respond.
How will our heart be remodeled? By following the prophet’s teachings and Jesus’ example, through prayer and by reading and applying the Holy Word.
It is written men shall not live by bread alone
It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
True wisdom and knowledge is found in The Holy Word and without this, no amount of positive thinking will get you anywhere you want to go. Yes, it may do so for you in this lifetime and if that’s all you’re after, all is good in your hood. If you believe in an afterlife however, I doubt that positive thinking on its own will show you the way.
Wordly wealth is not that hard to obtain but if you’re after a different kinda profit prophet, you’ll find that just the positive thinking on its own is not going to cut it.
Perfect Peace
Why do we utilise the power of positive thinking and prayer? Because we’re either trying to get away from a situation we’re in, or we’re aiming to go to, or we’re trying to attract to ourselves a more desirable place or situation. On the odd occasion we may utilise prayer to give thanks for all our blessings. Ultimately we all want peace, love and happiness in our life and we’re either actively working to achieve that or actively working to get away from where we don’t want to be.
It is without a doubt that some people become hugely successful in life without having a faith of any kind.
When I say that positive thinking does not work, I’m am talking for myself here and for me no amount of positive thinking ever got me the result I was after. Relying on God’s Holy Word however, is a different ballgame altogether. It has taken the anxiety out of everything because ultimately I pray that in all things God’s will be done. That means that all is in good order in my life because He is in charge.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
I’d love you to share with me if positive thinking works for you and how.
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The words of our LORD are pure words.
My words fail miserably in comparison.
Prior to reading the bible I had been writing poetry as a cathartic exercise to get certain things of my chest. Once I discovered GOD’s Word I decided that my own words fail miserably in comparison. My biting sarcasm did not do much to sooth my aching soul, and winning the odd prize here and there with my poems as listed below only added to my collection of hollow victories.
Thank You Dear In-laws
the year 2000
Thank You Dear In-laws
Thank you for your consideration
Inviting me into your family
I can hardly bare the elation
Such honour for someone like me
Unfortunately …
The warm glow of acceptance
Eluded me
When you hung me of your
Family tree
And watched me die with glee
Even though at the time I felt that these poems allowed me to take some of my power back and gave me a certain measure of control over my life, eventually I realised that victimhood is for losers.
I Majored
the year 2005
After two decades
Of intense study
I majored in victim hood
Chances of success
Not so good
In fact they’re very slim
When you win, you lose
And when you lose,
You win.
Now don’t go telling me that nobody chooses to be a victim.  All I am saying is that once I realised the situation, I picked a different team to play in.
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
GOD is in control
My own words come from my own limited understanding and the same goes for any other living soul on this planet. Who am I to think that I can add anything useful to the debate, any debate, unless the word I speak is grounded in truth? Who am I to argue with the Creator of the Universe?
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
In contrast to my prior struggles I made the choice to join the winning team and haven’t looked back. The following verses we sang most days to remind ourselves that GOD is in control. I cannot express the relief I felt when I discovered that I did not have to carry everything myself. I felt a hundred kilos lighter and that is a big feat for someone who only weighs slightly more than half that at the best of times.
These days when something upsets us, I no longer write sad and biting poetry but instead we call on The LORD and just as with King David, the LORD hears and helps us. Particularly when certain situations, such as described in earlier posts with regards to illness and depression, become overwhelming; the verses below give us the comfort and peace we need to be able to deal with whatever needs taking care of.
 The Lord Is Our Rock
The LORD Is Our Rock And Our Fortress
And our deliver
Our GOD, our strength, in whom we will trust
The horn of our salvation.
Psalm 18:2
Hear Me When I Call O GOD
Have mercy upon me for I am weak
My soul is vexed as are my bones
Heal me O LORD.
Psalm 6:2-3
In Our Distress We Called Upon The LORD
and HE heard our voice
The earth shook and trembled
The hills moved and were shaken.
There Went Up A Smoke Out Of HIS Nostrils
And fire out of HIS Mouth
HE bowed the heavens and HE came down ..
With darkness under HIS Feet..
HE Rode Upon A Cherub – And He Flew
Yea, HE flew upon the wings of the wind
The LORD HE thundered and gave HIS Voice
Hailstones and coals of fi-re.
The LORD Rebuked
HE took me; and drew me out of many waters
HE delivered me from my strong enemy
For they were too strong for me.
2 Samuel 22
The LORD HE Hears
When we call unto HIM
Stand in awe, and do not sin
Commune with your heart upon your bed,
And be still.
Psalms 4:3-5
We Offer The Sacrifices Of Righteousness
And in The LORD is our trust
He hearkens unto the voice of our cry
The LORD receives our prayers
Psalms 4:5, 5:2, 6:9
The LORD Is Our Light And Our Salvation
Whom shall we fear?
The LORD is the strength of our life
Of whom shall we be afraid?
Psalms 27:1
O LORD Our LORD
How excellent is THY Name in all the earth!
In THEE do we put our trust:
Save and deliver THOU us.
Psalms 8:1, 7:1
Thou Hast Put Gladness In Our Heart
We will lay us down in peace and sleep
For THOU LORD only.
Makest us dwell in safety.
Psalms 4:7-8
The LORD Looked Down From HIS Heaven
Upon the children of men,
To see if there were any
That seek HIM.
Psalms 14:2
For THOU LORD Hast Not Forsaken
Them that seek THEE
THOU judgeth that the man of the earth
May no more oppress
Psalms 9:12, 1:18
There Is No Peace For The Wicked
Saith Our LORD
The wicked, said HE, Shall be
Like the troubled sea.
Isaiah 57:20-21
The Words Of Our LORD Are Pure Words;
As silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times
Praise ye our LORD.
Psalms 12:6
I Had Fainted, Unless I Had Believed
To see the goodness of The LORD
In the land of the living.
Psalms 27:13
Surely Goodness And Mercy Will
Follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell
In the House of The LORD
Forever.
Psalms 23:6
The Lord Is Our Inheritance And Our Cup;
THOU maintainest our lot.
The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places
We shall not be moved.
Psalms 16:8
Wait On The LORD; Be Of Good Courage,
And HE’ll strengthen thine heart
Wait, I say on The LORD
Wait on The LORD.
Psalm 27:14
The LORD Is Our Rock And Our Fortress
And Our deliverer
Our GOD, our strength, in whom we will trust
The horn of our salvation.
Psalm 18:2
We like God’s Word
We like God’s Word because it is alive and truth and from where I am sitting GOD’s Word is incomparable to new age positive affirmation and positive thinking. I’m all for positive thinking but in my case optimism only yielded encouraging results once my positive attitude was solidly grounded in trust and faith and the knowledge that the Creator of our universe hears us and He cares.
As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted …
It is solely my faith and GOD’s Word which kept me alive and turned my life around for good. I have returned to my first love and the roses have never smelled sweeter.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Yehovah is everlasting strength.
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