POSITIVE THINKING
The Sanskrit word that closely translates to "positive thinking" is
*"Sankalpa"* which signifies a positive affirmation or resolve, essentially
embodying the idea of thinking with a positive mindset.
उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः
न हि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः
UDYAMENA HI SIDYANTI KARYANI NA MANORATHE
NA HI SUPTASYA SIMHASYA PRAVISHANTI MUKE MRGA:
Any target is achieved only by diligence and hard work not by merely
thinking. For analogy Deer doesn’t enter into sleeping lion’s mouth by
itself that means to get food lion has to hunt deer. [KR: so positive
thinking may open the field but what is the need and how to get it is a
different thinking and not by being mere positive thinker}
अमंत्रमक्षरं नास्ति नास्ति मूलमनौषधम्
अयोग्यः पुरुषो नास्ति योजकस्तत्र दुर्लभ
Amannamasharam nasti nasti noolamanowshadham
Ayogya purusho nasti yojakastatra durlabha:
Each and every letter can be mantra to be used for mediation, there is not
a single plant in this world which doesn’t have medicinal value. Similarly,
not a single person is worthless in this world (Everyone has some special
quality). Only those are rare to find who organizes thing properly and can
identify best in each thing and guide. {KR Idanai ivan mudikkum endraindhu
adanai avan kan vidal Tirukkural; Positive thinking absolves one from
chandrashtamam confusions; but one has to do more to be placed above the
villains; that is the difference; and all are equals; but why only a few on
top? Hy so many write exhibiting their knowhow in the right spectrum? But
many always curse and looks with the confused visions in spite of the
equality? Because positive thinking is a phenomenon occurring naturally;
majority assumed the villainy as positive thinking.}
नमन्ति फलिनो वृक्ष , नमन्ति गुनिनो जनः
शुष्क वृक्षस्च मुर्खास्च ना नमन्ति कदाचना
Namanti falino vruksha: namanti gunino jana:
Sushkavrukshaswa murckacha na namanti kathachana://
As tree laden with fruits bends downward similarly people with high
knowledge bow down to respect others. Stupid and unwise people remain in
ego and don’t bend as similar to dry tree log without fruits.
KR SHOULD I EXPLAIN?
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचनः
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणिा BG Karmanyevadikaraste
You have right to work and give best in that. Don’t worry for the results.
Rather than attaching yourself with result focus on your action and never
be attach to inaction.
Bg. 2.37
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्ग जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् ।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ॥ ३७ ॥
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṁ
jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm
tasmād uttiṣṭha kaunteya
yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ
O son of Kuntī, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the
heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom.
Therefore, get up with determination and fight.
Thus, we say, that be mindful and act; so action alone is performed;
and the resultant is not yours; it is already written; you go to heaven or
find the heaven here; and be normal as avivekis alone speak NO WORDS. Even
as a lion one has to hunt and mere sitting at a place with the positive
thinking will not render any rewards or failures; whether winning or losing
one has to step forward only. But WEST Psychology asserted a little
different as:
Broadly speaking, positive thinking can be thought of as positive
cognitions. This distinguishes positive thinking from emotions, behaviors,
and longer-term outcomes like wellbeing or depression.
In the research on positive thinking, an agreed-upon definition is still
evolving. For example, Caprara and Steca (2005) suggested that life
satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism were indicators that a person was
engaging in positive thinking.
Indeed, these concepts may involve positive thinking, but they are also
often thought of as positive outcomes that might result from engaging in
positive-thinking strategies.
Eight key skills that contribute to positive thinking that can be recalled
easily using the acronym THINKING:
Transforming negative thoughts into positive thoughts
Highlighting positive aspects of the situation
Interrupting pessimistic thoughts by using relaxation techniques and
distraction
Noting the need to practice positive thinking
Knowing how to break a problem into smaller parts to be manageable
Initiating optimistic beliefs with each part of the problem
Nurturing ways to challenge pessimistic thoughts
Generating positive feelings by controlling negative thoughts
You’ll note that this list includes techniques such as relaxation that may
or may not be cognitive.
Other researchers have explored the different dimensions of positive
thinking and have suggested that positive thinking can be understood as a
construct with four dimensions (Tsutsui & Fujiwara, 2015):
Self-encouragement thinking
This involves thoughts about being one’s own cheerleader.
Self-assertive thinking
This involves thoughts about doing well for others.
Self-instructive and control thinking
This involves thoughts that guide performance.
Self-affirmative thinking
This involves confident thoughts.
As you can see, positive thinking can be defined in different ways.
Inconsistent definitions of positive thinking in the research make it
difficult to draw clear conclusions about the role of positive thinking in
mental health.
*Clearer definitions about what positive thinking is and how it’s different
from assessments of wellbeing are needed to better understand the actual
benefits and importance of positive thinking.*
Are There Benefits?
Wellbeing Given that there are different definitions and components of
positive thinking, the benefits of each may be different.
First, positive thinking about the self tends to be good for wellbeing. For
example, when people have confidence in their abilities to achieve, they
are more likely to succeed and achieve (Taylor & Brown, 1994).
Second, optimistic thoughts are generally thought to be good for wellbeing.
It doesn’t seem to matter whether these thoughts are unrealistic or not.
Optimistic thinking tends to help people feel better, have more positive
social relationships, and cope better with stress (Taylor & Brown, 1994).
Third, positive thoughts or beliefs about control appear to be beneficial.
For example, believing that we have control during stressful experiences
seems to help us cope better (Taylor & Brown, 1994).The challenge mindset,
where we believe we have more control, is more beneficial for us.
Lastly, a general positive outlook toward life, oneself, and the future is
considered so beneficial that it is often considered a part of wellbeing
itself (Caprara & Steca, 2005). As the philosopher René Descartes once
said: COGITO ERGO SUM I think, therefore I am. B g SAYS YOU BECOME WHAT
YOU THINK SO EVEN IN THE DEATH BED IF YOU THIN POSITIVE, THAT MAY OPEN UP
THE FLOOD GATES IN THE NEXT JANAMA WHEN THE JOURNEY IS SMOOTHER TGHAN MIND
COULD THINK OF. This seems true when it comes to positive thinking; if we
think we feel good, then we do.
Optimists also seemed to recover faster from coronary artery bypass surgery
(Scheier & Carver, 1987). Other evidence points to the potential impact of
positive thinking on cardiovascular health, including better blood pressure
and lower risk for heart attacks. Positive thinking also seems to improve
the quality of life among cancer patients and can be protective against the
common cold, allergies, and other immune system issues (Naseem & Khalid,
2010). Furthermore, AIDS-specific optimism is related to active coping
(Taylor et al., 1992). Although there are many benefits of positive
thinking on health, there appears to be one key caveat. Urging patients
with severe illness to think positively about extremely negative situations
can be too big of an ask. Psychological support that includes positive
thinking can place an unnecessary burden on already struggling patients.
So, it’s important to keep in mind that positive thinking is just one of
many potentially successful strategies and shouldn’t be forced upon
individuals who don’t feel like it’s a good fit for them (Rittenberg, 1995).
1 Past-focused positive thinking
Past-focused thinking that is negative or pessimistic may contribute to
greater depression. Shifting these thoughts to be more positive can help us
move past bad things that happened in the past.
Here are examples of past-focused positive thoughts that put a positive
spin on the past while still acknowledging the difficult situation:
“I did the best I could.” Karmanyavadikaraste…………
“I know my childhood wasn’t perfect, but my parents did the best they
could.”
2 Present-focused positive thinking
Present-focused positive thinking can help us cope more effectively with
our current challenges, decrease our stress, and potentially improve our
life satisfaction.
Here are some examples of present-focused positive thoughts:
“I’m so lucky to have my friend Jane who really cares about me.”
“That breakfast was so tasty and beautiful, and I enjoyed it immensely.”
“Even though I may make mistakes, I always try my best.” B G chap 2 verses
to Arjuna GO TO HEAVEN OR GET IT RIGHT HERE.
3 Future-focused positive thinking
Future-focused thinking that is negative or pessimistic may contribute to
greater worry or anxiety. Shifting these thoughts to be more positive can
help us stay more present and stop generating negative emotions about
things that haven’t even happened yet.
Here are some examples of future-focused positive thoughts:
“It’s all going to turn out fine.”
“I can’t wait to go to that event next week.”
“I will continue to work toward my goals, so I know that my future is going
to be great.”
By focusing positive thinking backward, in the moment, and forward, we can
use it to resolve different types of negative thoughts and potentially
improve multiple aspects of wellbeing.
Positive Thinking vs. Negative Thinking
Like positive thinking, negative thinking is not a clear-cut construct. But
as a relatively simple example, optimism is often contrasted with pessimism.
When it comes to performance, both optimism and pessimism are equally
effective. More specially, a person who is a defensive pessimist does
better when using one strategy, and a person who is a strategic optimist
does better when using another. That means that negative thoughts can help
some people in some circumstances (Norem & Chang, 2002).
When it comes to wellbeing, optimists tend to be in a better mood, while
pessimists tend to be higher in anxiety (Norem & Chang, 2002). But simply
inducing a more positive mood in pessimists doesn’t just hurt their
performance, it makes them more anxious.
Defensive pessimists do and feel better when they’re allowed to explore
potentially negative outcomes – this helps them manage their anxiety more
effectively. Furthermore, defensive pessimists have better outcomes than
other anxious people who are not pessimists.
All this is to say that ridding people of their pessimism is not only
unhelpful, but it may also be harmful (Norem & Chang, 2002). So what does
one do with negative thinking?
In the case of pessimists, it may be better not to force them into positive
thinking. To them, it may feel like trying to put a square peg into a round
hole. Instead, it may be more helpful to explore whether negative thoughts
are functional, useful, and beneficial.
It may be helpful to record negative thoughts to understand why they appear
and how they affect other emotions and behaviors. Use our Dysfunctional
Thought Record Worksheet to do this, as it will help explore negative
thought triggers and practice making thoughts more adaptive.
This doesn’t mean these new thoughts have to be positive, just more
helpful. Furthermore, you can access our Getting Rid of ANTS: Automatic
Negative Thoughts Worksheet as well.
Criticisms: What Positive Thinking Is Not
Positive behavior Although we’ve covered compelling research on the
benefits of positive thinking, there are some criticisms that are worth
mentioning and help clarify what positive thinking is not.
First, excessive positive emotion may actually harm wellbeing. For example,
Dr. June Gruber’s research suggests that too much positive emotion can be a
risk factor for mania (Gruber, Johnson, Oveis, & Keltner, 2008).
Furthermore, thinking excessively about happiness has also been linked to
lower wellbeing. Especially, setting unreasonably high standards for
happiness and frequently thinking about one’s own emotional state have been
linked to lower happiness (Ford & Mauss, 2014). This research suggests that
there may be some aspects of positive thinking that are not good for us.
Another common criticism of positive thinking is that it’s an
inappropriate, and possibly ineffective, strategy in some situations – for
example, in response to the death of a loved one (Bonanno & Burton, 2013).
Further research has shown that *cognitive reappraisal*, which involves
thinking about the positives or silver linings of a situation, can help in
some situations and hurt in others. More specifically, using this positive
thinking strategy was actually associated with higher depression in
situations that were controllable (Troy, Shallcross, & Mauss, 2013). This
suggests that positive thinking may not be an effective strategy in all
situations.
Another criticism centers around particular types of positive thinking that
are not based on science. For example, experts in the field of psychology
generally consider “the law of attraction,” which suggests that believing
in something will make it so, to be pseudoscience, not based on scientific
methods.
In fact, these types of beliefs are considered magical thinking, and
research has shown that greater familiarity with the law of attraction is
associated with higher depression (Jones, 2019). So it’s important to keep
in mind that positive thinking can be a useful tool in some circumstances
and may contribute to optimism, positive outcomes, and wellbeing, but it’s
not magic.
*A Take-Home Message*
Positive thinking has been of interest to psychologists for some time.
Still, a mutually agreed-upon definition of positive thinking remains
elusive. Regardless of how positive thinking is measured, it appears to
impact both mental and physical health positively. Further, many useful
resources are available to help people build their positive thinking
skills. Overall, the research suggests that cultivating positive thinking
in counseling, therapy, or on your own is indeed a worthwhile endeavor. We
trust our resources will be beneficial in guiding you on a more positive
path.
K Rajaram IRS 9225
On Sun, 9 Feb 2025 at 09:35, venkat giri <[email protected]> wrote:
> *Respected Sir/s,*
>
> *SUBJECT: **Thought for the Day 9th Feb 2025…**POSITIVETHINKING*
>
> *POSITIVE THINKING **is the practice of focusing on the **GOOD **in any
> situation**, while still **acknowledging** the **BAD!!!**. It can help
> one to **improve mental and physical health.* *Building a few habits,
> like positive self-talk and **journaling**, can **help one get started*
>
> *Benefits of positive thinking:*
>
> · *Stronger immune system: Positive thinking can help one fight
> off illness. *
>
> · *Longer life span: Research shows that **optimists tend to live
> longer than pessimists. *
>
> · *Lower risk of cardiovascular disease: Positive thinking can
> help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. *
>
> · *Better mental health: Positive thinking can help reduce the
> risk of mental health problems. *
>
> *How to practice positive thinking?*
>
> · *PRACTICE GRATITUDE: EXPRESS gratitude for the good things in **LIFE
> **. *
>
> · *Use positive self-talk**: Repeat affirmations about ONES
> abilities, worthiness, and potential. *
>
> · *Spend time with positive people: **Surrounding with positive
> people who can help one stay motivated. *
>
> · *Challenge negative thoughts**: Use rational thinking to
> identify and counter negative thoughts. *
>
> · *Be open to humour**: Always Try to find the humour in
> situations. *
>
> · *Start the day positively**: Try to start the day on a positive
> note.*
>
> *Other proven benefits of thinking positively include:*
>
> · *better quality of life*
>
> · *higher energy levels*
>
> · *better psychological and physical health*
>
> · *faster recovery from injury or illness*
>
> · *fewer colds*
>
> · *lower rates of depression*
>
> · *better stress management and coping skills*
>
> · *longer life span*
>
> *POSITIVE THINKING **isn’t **magic** and it won’t solve our problems.
> BUT it will make problems seem more manageable and help to approach
> hardships in a more positive and productive way.*
>
> *Regards*
>
> *V.Sridharan*
>
> *Trichy*
>
>
> On Sunday 9 February, 2025 at 04:54:56 am IST, Jambunathan Iyer <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>
> Positive thinking, on the other hand, results in a self-fulfilling
> prophecy in which our ideas and beliefs influence the world around us. By
> using positive thinking affirmations, we may develop a mindset that is more
> resilient and optimistic. Affirmations are a simple yet powerful technique
> to rewire your subconscious to affect your feelings, ideas, and actions.
>
>
> N Jambunathan Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004
>
> *" What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you
> become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a happy life, tie it to
> a goal, not to people or things "*
>
>
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