Thinking Positively vs. Positively Thinking

Think positively is the mantra of the moment. Got a cold? Think positive and keep moving. Lost your job? Think positive – you’ll find another and better one. Family problems? Think positive and a solution will present itself.

The fans of “think positive” often go even further than just thinking and suggest a daily course of affirmations. The use of affirmations is based on the belief that daily repetition of positive statements like “Every day in every way I am getting better and better.” or “My perfect job is coming toward me right now!” will change your life and your attitude and attract to you the things you desire.

Maybe. Possibly. When the Moon is in the 7th house…

Better than thinking positively is positively thinking. That is, realistically evaluating what you need and what resources you have to meet that need.

The problem with thinking positive is most people do not follow up with positive action. Action remains in the realm of thought. Yet, without action, thinking tends to be a dead end way of dealing with a problem.

Heinz von Foerster, a physicist, philosopher and one of the originators of cybernetics, said, “If you desire to see, learn how to act”. I understand that to mean that to even see the problem clearly, to even think about a problem clearly, we must learn to act on the problem. In other words, by taking some action we move ourselves from the world of thought into the world of action. Our actions may not solve the problem completely but they will indicate a starting place from which we can move toward a solution. In other words, by taking some action, any action, we obtain a different view of the problem and possible solutions become clearer to us.

Think about the problem of finding a job. Start with an action: make a list of every job you have ever had and the responsibilities of the job. Now think about your list. Which jobs gave you a success experience? Another action: put a star next to the jobs which gave you a success experience? Think again: what do those jobs have in common? The next action: list those things.

Notice the movement between action and thought, action and thought. By alternating the two, you can refine your list to the point where you are so very clear about where you want to be and what kind of job you want to do, that you will be able to begin a focused job search.