Your "Power" is in Positive Thinking.

When I was in secondary school, my father introduced me to positive thinking and having a positive attitude. He insisted that I read all the books by Norman Vincent Peale who was the progenitor of Positive Thinking (1952). Although it did not kick in at first, it did eventually after a few years, I became more aware of how I thought and do things more positively, even with ordinary things in life.
Your attitude determines the state of the "world" you live in i.e. positive attitude leads to positive results and negative attitude leads to negative results. It will make you or break you.
Positive thinking or attitude conditions the mind, with thoughts, words and images that will bring about the actions required for the desired results. Positive mental attitude desires and expects good and favorable outcome (positive results). A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind conceives to achieve, it finds a way to achieve it.
A majority of people do not apply positive thinking in their lives. Not everyone is aware of such a practice or believes in positive thinking. Some consider the subject as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who believe and accept it (e.g. of negative attitude bringing on negative results). For those who accept it, not many know how to use it effectively to get results. Yet, it seems that many are becoming attracted to this subject, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it. This is a subject that is gaining popularity. Recent good examples that encourage the practice of positive thinking are shown in books like :"The Secret" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul."
It is quite common to hear people say: "Think positive!", to someone who feels down and worried. Most people do not take these words seriously, as they do not know what they really mean, or do not consider them as useful and effective. How many people do you know, who stop to think what the power of positive thinking means? The difficulty in people embracing this is in our tendency to accept negatives easier than to be positive because sometimes to be positive requires a person to fight against his natural tendencies.
According to an author, Mary Lore: "how do we know if a thought is powerful or not? Very simply, by noticing how we feel as we think a thought. When a thought is not working for us, we don't feel good as we are thinking the thought. Our head and neck are tense, our eyebrows are furrowed, our breath is short, our chest and stomachs are tight.
"When we are thinking a powerful thought, we feel good. We feel at peace. We feel a sense of inner power. We feel inspired." This is the power of positive thinking.
The following story illustrates how this power works:
Ashley applied for a new job, but as his self-esteem was low, and he considered himself as a failure and unworthy of success, he was sure that he was not going to get the job. He had a negative attitude towards himself, and believed that the other applicants were better and more qualified than him. Ashley manifested this attitude, due to his negative past experiences with job interviews.
His mind was filled with negative thoughts and fears conce
ing the job for the whole week before the job interview. He was sure he would be rejected. On the day of the interview he got up late, and to his horror he discovered that the shirt he had planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out wearing a shirt full of wrinkles.
During the interview he was tense, displayed a negative attitude, worried about his shirt, and felt hungry because he did not have enough time to eat breakfast. All this distracted his mind and made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and consequently he materialized his fear and did not get the job.
Kently applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. He was sure that he was going to get the job. During the week preceding the interview he often visualized himself making a good impression and getting the job. In the evening before the interview he prepared the clothes he was going to wear, and went to sleep a little earlier. On day of the interview he woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time. He got the job because he made a good impression. He had also of course, the proper qualifications for the job, but so had Ashley.
What do we learn from these two stories? Is there any magic employed here? No, it is all natural. When the attitude is positive we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive images, and see in our mind's eye what we really want to happen. This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy and happiness. The whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even the health is affected in a beneficial way. We walk tall and the voice is more powerful. Our body language shows the way you feel inside.
Whether it's Positive Thinking or Negative Thinking they are both contagious.
All of us affect, in one way or another, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference, and through body language. People sense our aura and are affected by our thoughts, and vice versa. Is it any wonder that we want to be around positive people and avoid negative ones? People are more disposed to help us if we are positive, and they dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity.
Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When a person's mind is negative, it brings about more unhappiness and negativity. This is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment. Where do negative attitudes come from in the first place?
Negative attitudes come from thinking negative thoughts over and over until they have become a part of your subconscious - they've become habitual, a part of your personality. You may not even realize you have a negative attitude because it's been with you for so long. Once you have a bad attitude, you expect failure and disaster. This expectation turns you into a strong magnet for failure and disaster. Then it becomes a vicious circle. You expect the worst - you get the worst - your negative beliefs are reinforced - you expect the worst - you get the worst. You get the picture?
SO, HOW DO WE SHIFT OUR THOUGHTS AND CREATE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE?
It takes work, but creating anything of value takes work. In order to have a new attitude we have to change our subconscious thinking. How do we do this? By analyzing every thought we have until positive thinking becomes habit. You're merely replacing an old habit with a healthy habit, much like replacing exercise for smoking. You can't just stop being negative - you have to replace those negative thoughts with positive ones.
Some people would say, "But negative situations are a reality. They just show up in every day life." This is absolutely not true. Situations are a reality, yes. They do show upbut it is your ATTITUDE that makes a situation positive or negative. It's time for you to realize that YOU are in control of how you think and feel - no one else on earth has this power unless you give it away. Take control of your attitude, and you take control of your results.
"Your state of mind creates the state of your results."
Some Practical Suggestions.
In order to turn the mind toward the positive, inner work and training are required. Attitude and thoughts do not change ove
ight.
Get hold of at least a copy of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale or all his books related to this subject. Read them and learn the important points, think about the benefits and persuade yourself to try it. The power of thoughts is a mighty power that is always shaping our life. This shaping is usually done subconsciously, but it is possible to make the process a conscious one. Even if the idea seems strange give it a try, as you have nothing to lose, but only to gain. Ignore what others might say or think about you, if they discover that you are changing the way you think.
Always visualize only favorable and beneficial situations. Use positive words in your inner dialogues or when talking with others. Smile more as this brings about positiveness. Disregard any feelings of laziness or a desire to quit. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks and the way you conduct your life.
Once a negative thought enters your mind, you have to be aware of it and endeavor to replace it with a constructive one. The negative thought will try again to enter your mind, and then you have to replace it again with a positive one. It is as if there are two pictures in front of you, and you choose to look at one of them and disregard the other. Persistence will eventually teach your mind to think positively and ignore negative thoughts.
In case you feel any inner resistance when replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, do not give up, but keep looking only at the beneficial, good and happy thoughts in your mind.
It does not matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly. It may take some time for the changes to take place, but eventually they do.
Another method to employ is the repetition of positive affirmations e.g.
Every day, if you can, repeat :
I'M A HIGH ACHIEVER
Take it inside yourself (imagine) and let it be true for you (for a few moments - at the very least)!
I AM A HIGH ACHIEVER.
Think yourself as (it is true) - You ARE! (even if You don't know it, yet)
It is a method which resembles creative visualization, and which can be used in conjunction with it. Try it and see for yourself.
Quotation: "Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will."