Positive thinking is what counts<\/p>\n
By D. Chandramouli<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"It's the attitude that counts, at every
\naltitude\", says an ad by Lufthansa Airlines.<\/p>\n
Yes, life is really about hopes. Our very existence from one
\nmoment to another hinges on hopes. What is \"positive thinking\"?
\nIt is a state of mind, whereby we train ourselves to look on the
\nbright side of things, seeing possibilities rather than problems,
\nwith the result it will soon become a habit. For this, we must
\nhave faith in ourselves, faith in the world around us and above
\nall, faith in God.<\/p>\n
Hope builds on its own momentum and opens up immense
\nopportunities. An abundant mentality creates unlimited choices in
\nlife.<\/p>\n
Thoughts are the basis of all actions. Positive thinking is
\nbased on strong beliefs. Beliefs act on our emotions and
\nfeelings, and transcend, but are not opposed to, reasons. The
\npowerful subconscious mind generates the \"can do\" spirit, which
\nin turn generates the \"how to\".<\/p>\n
The positive approach is not a mere tactic but an attribute.
\nPositive thinkers view everything from a broader perspective.
\nThey are willing to listen to others' opinions and are flexible
\nenough to accommodate differing viewpoints.<\/p>\n
For an optimist, every problem is an opportunity turned inside
\nout. Therefore, he is a better problem-solver. He believes that
\nthings will improve, so he behaves accordingly. A positive
\nattitude leads to positive responses. If the first is achieved,
\nthe other will follow.<\/p>\n
More often than not, the way we look at a problem becomes a
\nproblem by itself. \"Is the cup half-full or half-empty?\" It
\ndepends on how you look at it. If we can cultivate an optimistic
\noutlook, our paradigms are tuned to find better and alternative
\nsolutions to problems. The biggest advantage of being positive is
\nthat we are not part of the problems but part of solutions.<\/p>\n
It may seem ridiculous, but I know a person who is such an
\noptimist that he reinforces his positivism even from his blood
\ntype: \"B(e) Positive\"! Well, why not?<\/p>\n
However, we do find some perpetual pessimists, with permanent
\nfrowns on their faces, as though the world is set to come to an
\nend the very next day. For anything and everything, they will say
\nthe opposite. Their grievances would be endless. Discontent and
\ngloom are part of their psyche. You ask them not to use negative
\nwords such as \"can't\" and \"not\". They will manage to irritate you
\nby saying, \"I can't see why not\"!<\/p>\n
There are periods when negative thoughts and fears of failure
\nblind our minds. Nevertheless, we shouldn't give up hope. There
\nmust be some way, some doors that are only waiting to be opened.
\nWe must try, with all the resources at our command, to explore
\neach and every option and work at it.<\/p>\n
My schoolteacher had told me that there is always someone out
\nthere to help you in your endeavors, and that man is only seven
\npersons away from you. \"But\" he used to say; \"you have to go to
\nhim\".<\/p>\n
Even with the best of intentions, we may realize that there
\nare certain things which we cannot alter. We should then
\nreconcile within our minds that we did our best, and should leave
\nthe rest, which is outside our control. What cannot be cured must
\nbe endured.<\/p>\n
To quote Dada J.P. Vaswani, a great philosopher and humanist,
\nwho recently visited Jakarta, \"Failure is very necessary -- it
\nhas a place in life. Failures give significance to success. It is
\nfailure that draws out the best within us. We have not failed
\nwe've only postponed our success. Failure teaches us humility\".<\/p>\n
Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan were known to use
\ninnumerable anecdotes for effective communication. Similarly,
\nDada Vaswani often makes his points clear, by sprinkling them
\nwith humorous little stories.<\/p>\n
Here is an example from his repertoire, on \"humility\". \"A rich
\nman, when asked if he ever prays, said: \"I have everything in
\nlife. I don't need to pray to God at all\". Then a bystander
\nreminded him, saying, \"You can at least pray for humility\".<\/p>\n
We should not allow occasional failures to shake our self-
\nconfidence. Obstacles in life should be looked at as challenges
\nand opportunities. We must be steadfast in our conviction and
\ndetermination.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Walter Doyle Staples, \"You can learn to find
\nthe good even in the bad, thereby making the bad not so bad any
\nmore\".<\/p>\n
Mental and emotional attitudes also play a role in our
\nphysical health. The present-day doctors agree that there is
\nindeed a \"mind and body\" connection and they encourage the
\npatients to develop willpower, to fight the diseases.<\/p>\n
What happens to those people who, sometimes, undergo untold
\nagony, either due to mental or physical sufferings? As a wise
\nsaying goes: \"Hope means, hoping when things are really
\nhopeless\". We should then believe in the powers of God and pray
\nto Him. Our sincere prayers wouldn't go in vain.<\/p>\n
Behind positive attitudes lies our great human potential.
\nPositive thinking is empowerment of self. It is creative and
\nconstructive. Arnold Schwarzenegger, action film hero,
\nacknowledges the power of the mind thus: \"The mind is the limit.
\nAs long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do
\nsomething, you can do it -- as long as you really believe 100
\npercent\".<\/p>\n
Our mind is our best friend. We have the power to transform
\nourselves. Let us, therefore, resolve to become positive persons
\nand develop the \"Habit of Hope\" It's only a matter of conscious
\nchoice.<\/p>",
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