The average person faces challenges every day that appears insurmountable at times, thereby causing pain, anguish, and difficulty. The Power of Positive Thinking addressed and gave solutions to problems the common man encountered through the application of “scientific” techniques. Norman Vincent Peale, the author of the book, was born in 1898, Bowersville, Ohio. The book, published in 1952, is still relevant to our changing world. The book teaches on the application of certain techniques to take control, and overcome negative situations in life. In Chapters 1-4, Robert Peale addressed the problem of inferiority complex in the society and suggested ten ways to deal with the problem. The author believed that this problem is the reason many …show more content…
When we slow down the pace of life considerably, we get peace internally, and spiritually.The easiest way to lose energy is through fuming and fretting. Further Chapter narrated how the power of thought can affect lives positively or negatively depending on the nature of thought. The author went further saying that having a mind of positive expectation influences whatever outcome that happens and vice versa. The next Chapter talks about cultivating a winning attitude always. The author advises that people should focus more on the possibilities in every situation and not on the obstacles. Obstacles will always be there, but when we choose to ignore it and focus only on things to get us around it, then that is a winning attitude. Chapter 9 describes the effects of worry and fear on our physical body. In fact, the author pointed out that worry is the source of many diseases like Hypertension, arthritis. Robert Neale pointed out how we can expunge worry and fear from our mind and fill it with thoughts of faith, victory, positive expectations. Chapter 10 deals with finding the right solutions to problems. In the journey of life, it is inevitable that we will encounter problems. Planning and effectively mapping out a strategy to deal with problems have proven very successful. The strategy the author was referring to is partnering with God. The author outlined
The book contains a series of breakdowns of thoughts, outlooks, and emotional schemes. There are numerous exercises that help one to come to terms with issues relating to the various chapters the book contains. Some are more specific than others and require serious dedication to exercises, such as writing letters to your inner child, some are different tasks than others such as clearing your mind and imagining good in a specific person. As I
Humanity is constantly searching for this idea of inner peace. In a modern world of sometimes seemingly endless suffering, how can one interpret this idea of peace into their daily life? The ancient Taoist text, the Daodejing of Laozi, makes many lofty and vague sentiments about how to find piece and rise above inner struggle in order to find an abstract “Way” which will guide one to inner piece. However, this text leaves much to be desired in how one is supposed to find this way amidst a world that is often very painful and bleak. Shane Koyczan’s spoken word poem “Instructions for a Bad Day” focuses less on the idea of finding you way, and more about overcoming current struggles. Life, however, is neither just overcoming struggle, nor just finding your way. It is a constant struggle between rising over pain, and finding inner happiness. These two texts together, though, examine the ways in which one can rise above their struggles into this greater “way” of living. Together, these pieces argue that one can make their own inner peace by accepting that pain is as much a part of living as happiness is, and by allowing these two things to cycle in and out of their lives naturally without fighting against either.
Sacrificed the truth, beauty and the right to think, happiness and comfort is just indulgent, it is the discomfort brought by the misery, responsibility and the bonding give us the weight of life. The world is full of people who try hard to gain happiness, and we all have at least one time the idea of living in a perfect world, a world without pain, without misery, without getting old and without cancers. We always ignored the importance and the beauty of uncomfortableness, just as a quote in this book said, “Stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand”. After read this book, I started to be more objective at those bad things I used to hate, to understand the significance of art and to be grateful to this imperfect world we are
Survival in a life or death situation is completely circumstantial and unpredictable.Laurence Gonzales’s central idea about survival in his essay “Deep Survival” is that it requires a positive mental attitude. Gonzales supports this claim by stating “...only by researching and dissecting the mysterious quality..called positive attitude would [he] ever understand survival” (334). Gonzales has presented a correct definition of a positive mindset as the most important tool in survival.A positive mindset compels a person to stay calm,make rational decisions and prevent them from giving up.
Each and every individual faces obstacles and limitations unique to their own circumstances, and the way that those obstacles are met and overcome ultimately determine the fulfillment and happiness that person is able to acquire. Perhaps one of the most influential but commonly looked over influences on one’s development is the attitude of others, in addition to one’s own attitude. While a kind, strong, responsible, driven attitude can empower one to lead a fulfilling life, the positivity of others is equally as effective. Whether it be despite perseverance and optimism of the individual or in junction with the two, the attitudes of others’ have the ability to influence one’s life in significant ways. The
The book is neither meant to be a theological treatise nor an academic exposition but a toolkit to unleash human potentials; a resource for intervention in dealing with human life hurts and as a channel of Gods healing and liberation through Jesus Christ.
I stumbled through the first thirty-eight years of life attempting to mask the hurts caused by myself and others. I was my own worst critic fueled by raging addictions and chaos; searching to find a perfection that could never be achieved. Life was a hurricane of madness and at the center of that storm was the Father waiting for me to give Him my whole heart. The purpose of this paper is to show through those who have been studied, the textbooks that have been read and my own opinions; the counseling methods and
In his article, The Power of Negative Thinking, Oliver Burkeman discusses the realities behind excessive optimism and the benefits to negative thinking. Specifically, Burkeman argues that positive thinking hinders the preparation and motivation necessary to tackle actual real world problems whereas negative thinking allows for such preparation. His argument’s strengths come from his constant use of logic in regards to his evidence whether it be the “fire walkers” in the first paragraph or the opinions of Barbara Ehrenreich in the paragraph nine. In short, Burkeman does a superb job of championing the benefits of pessimism through his criticism on positive thinking.
For 54 days, Brian Robeson, was stranded on an island with only his knowledge, the clothes on his back, and his hatchet. In the book Hatchet, written by Gary Paulsen, Brian got stranded because the pilot of his plane had a heart attack. Not only did the pilot having the heart attack test Brian about what he knew about planes, but it also tested him on how much he knew about how to survive without the major necessities. “You are your most valuable asset. Don't forget that. You are the best thing you have.” (page 51). Brian had to take the words from his english teacher to help him get through the 54 days in the Canadian Wilderness. This is the power of positive thinking, after he got over the fact that he was stranded all alone, he used positive
When life gets good, glory can get in the way of things. Even as I finish this book, I wonder whom I will meet and help because of this. However, God’s Will for the last twenty-one chapters has everything to do with Him and little to do with me.
"We get pulled out of our comfort zone to help shed our lukewarm nature, eventually trusting God in all of our circumstances"~Taryn Barnes
The children’s story “The Little Engine That Could” portrays a little engine who wishes to carry a larger train over a hill. Throughout the story he tells himself “I think I can…I think I can”. The outcome is that he manages to successfully transport the larger train over the hill. The moral of this story is that if a person thinks positive then he or she will produce great results. In other words if you think you can accomplish a task then chances are you probably will. The secret is a positive thought process. If a man changes the way that he thinks he changes his life.
The authors seek to elucidate to the masses the concepts of God’s hope, amazing love and the power that emanates from god 's sake to his children. Through the entire work the writers seek to demonstrate through years of experience how people can be in possession of their thought patterns, enhance their decision-making skills to promote the physical and relational self. The book brings out very hefty discussions on life and the various engagements that people make every day of their lives. The book contains concepts like relationships and their dynamics where the authors assert that relationships ought to include God in them because he exists in them (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015 p.112).
“Thoughts become perception, perception becomes reality. Alter your thoughts, alter your reality” (James “William James Quote”). This sentiment from William James who was a leading philosopher and psychologist at the turn of the 19th Century inspires one to challenge their labeling of a current circumstance, suggesting happiness is a perception that can be manipulated. This mind over matter approach to life’s struggles has become commonplace in the repertoire of motivational speakers, close friends, coaches, and other well-meaning influencers alike. This ambiguous concept has the ability to produce very real consequences, even death. In
Positive psychology, which has emerged recently, is the scientific study of human thriving. Psychology traditionally focuses on dysfunction—on people with mental illness or other psychological problems and how to treat them. Positive psychology, by contrast, is a relatively new field that examines how ordinary people can become happier and more fulfilled. In his 1998 APA presidential address, Seligman, the founder of positive psychology, argued that psychology had become too focused on curing mental illness according to a disease model, and that, for all intents and purposes, it had become a “victimology” (Seligman, 1998). What was needed, he averred, was a new “science of human strengths,” a positive psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000).