Teachings,+The+Debate+on+Positive+and+Negative+Thinking

The Debate on Positive and Negative thinking
(By Sam)(ael)

There has been a steady debate for many, many years over which way of thinking is better. Positive or Negative? The debate has not been won on either side though for the most part people tend to believe in positive thinking, and those who don't tend to be determined to be as they please, or actually undecided and easily swayed by mood as to which thinking they apply.

Let us take a look at both aspects of thinking and the factors that may influence your own decision on the matter:

Positive Thinking
Positive thinking has been almost universally accepted as the better way for several reasons. Thinking positively tends to relieve stress that can build up in bad situations. Learning to look at a 'bad' situation and pick out a few good things to just be grateful for can be a very healthy practice, reducing Ulcers and stress disorders. Such practices also can be emotionally healing and cut down on therapy requirements. A positive outlook on life can also affect the way you interact with your world. If you expect good things you will often be excited about your day and pretty much everything you do in that day. That kind of energy in a person tends to influence those around them making them more charismatic and better liked. Just thinking positive can change your attitude and make you a more effective person with other people. Thinking positive can also be infectious. Often in leadership positions when the real bad days come and effective leader by simply remaining positive and getting busy can motivate a dozen employees and get the wreckage cleaned up. This ability is something close to heroic in the corporate and military fields especially. It has also been proven that your thoughts have the ability to attract things. By thinking positive you cannot help but attract positive things. Additionally, to anyone that is interested in the greater good or service to humanity on any level (even just being happy and making those around you a little more happy) being positive is the best way to do that.

__Motivation__: One of the defining traits of being positive is that ability to regroup from a potentially fatal blow and get started again, fixing the mistakes and moving forward. Being positive is an excellent way to do this in a very healthy and simple way.

Negative Thinking
Negative thinking does have a few... positive qualities. In many professions it is some people's Job to be prepared for the worst. Positive thought can sometimes be misleading but Negativity can only make you prepared for things that are worse than what actually happens. In some cases this preparedness can be valuable. Unlike Positive thought Negative does not block out certain aspects of reality. A Negative person who does not lower themselves to pessimism can take a very realistic look at reality. You will notice that negative characters and even in many cases Pessimistic characters that feel rejected by society and thus turn their pessimism instead of their positive feelings on society can often be glaringly right about certain hypocrisy and falsehoods within society. A positive person picks the good out of the bad. A Negative person embraces it all and can focus on the problems. Once again, this ability can be vital.

__Protection__: One of the most beneficial characteristics of being negative is that it can protect already tender feelings by blocking out your hope long enough to heal (so you don't get hurt while you are already tender), and in allowing you to protect yourself more than may be necessary. Though life is about risk, a negative person who sees the potential for ruin in everything may take initiative and prepare better. If they are even emotionally in control enough to prepare for the worst and then take the good as it comes they may be able to benefit from both sides of the spectrum but this should be attempted less. It is better just to pick a side and play your simple advantages.

Active Thinking Versus Passive
Now, most people dont usually actively think either positive or negative. Instead they only react to situations. When something bad happens usually people get really negative. This is a natural reaction. Being negative helps you protect yourself now that you are already hurt. When good things happen we can even get positive also. This allows us to relax and return to a healthy way of living and even hope for the future which can help us make and act of plans for good things. The problem is that reactions are not any better for us than they are for animals. The ability to control our thoughts, to stop and think inside that space between situation and rection is what gives us the advantage. When you get dumped for instance by your boyfriend you will naturally (usually) be ready for the world to come down around you. You won't trust men because they could hurt you like he did, and you won't exactly be hoping for a beautiful wedding or even a caring relationship much. If you do it will usually be in self-pity which is the most useless emotion man has ever felt. BUT... Since you are human, you can stop. Think about what has happened. Realize that maybe it was better that he left if he was going to be such a Jerk, and look for all the new options that just opened up. Maybe you can find a BETTER boyfriend. Maybe you can finally watch all of the chick flicks you want because no punny man can stop you from doing what you like now! In a reversed situation, if you just got that promotion to chief-uber-boss-man at work you might stop for a second before you jump up and down and pull out a cigar to think about the dangers involved. Are you being duped? Are you even capable of filling this position without looking like a monkey in a suit? Will you get to spend time with your family if you have all of these responsabilities?

You notice the benefits right? The Key? Actively thinking instead of Reacting to situations. It also helps to know what the advantages of each way of thought are to, but mostly choosing how you are going to act in a situation an give you a lot of power. And who knows? Maybe you don't really need to be negative at all?