Lifestyle > Train of Thought
"positive" thinking advocates debate me here....
TraceOneInfinite:
I will present 3 of what I believe to be mostly false assumptions/claims made by "positive" thinking advocates. This is supposed to be a respectful pshych/sociol discussion...
1. Positive thinking advocates say things like "happiness is all in the mind"... or "happiness is a mindstate". Well, I purpose that happiness is an INVOLUNTARY emotion resulting from bad or good experiences we encounter in our life.
If person A is able to go through a bad experience and stay happy and positive that things will get better it is because he has had past experiences where things have gotten better or met or known of others who have overcame or some past event, encounter or knowledge has given him this hope. I don't however believe that he "willed it" alltogether because I believe it to be involuntary.
2. Positive thinkers may be neglecting their true emotions or feelings about something, and this could cause wasted energy and time engaging in something that they would be better off leaving.
3. Positive thinkers believe it was their positive thinking that gave them success, when in reality, the reason they were able to remain confident in a difficult cirumstance may have actually been because of their abilities in that area.
4. Positive thinkers may be certain something will happen, and when it doesn't they could be left unprepared for a changing situation because their are always many possible outcomes for a situration that one needs to be aware of.
herpes:
--- Quote from: Abd. Infinite presents... Real Hip-Hop on March 31, 2008, 06:43:48 PM ---I will present 3 of what I believe to be mostly false assumptions/claims made by "positive" thinking advocates. This is supposed to be a respectful pshych/sociol discussion...
1. Positive thinking advocates say things like "happiness is all in the mind"... or "happiness is a mindstate". Well, I purpose that happiness is an INVOLUNTARY emotion resulting from bad or good experiences we encounter in our life.
If person A is able to go through a bad experience and stay happy and positive that things will get better it is because he has had past experiences where things have gotten better or met or known of others who have overcame or some past event, encounter or knowledge has given him this hope. I don't however believe that he "willed it" alltogether because I believe it to be involuntary.
2. Positive thinkers may be neglecting their true emotions or feelings about something, and this could cause wasted energy and time engaging in something that they would be better off leaving.
3. Positive thinkers believe it was their positive thinking that gave them success, when in reality, the reason they were able to remain confident in a difficult cirumstance may have actually been because of their abilities in that area.
4. Positive thinkers may be certain something will happen, and when it doesn't they could be left unprepared for a changing situation because their are always many possible outcomes for a situration that one needs to be aware of.
--- End quote ---
I am far from a positive thinker and I am probably the most cynical 23 year old you will meet if not one of the most negative and cynical people you will meet in general but you sound jealous that some people are able to keep a positive mind set. I know plenty of people that have been dealt a shitty hand in life and keep a positive mind set. And it's not a knock on you I'm just going from what we have discussed on AIM and what you have discussed here, but people that have been dealt a much shittier hand in life then you have. And they can keep a positive frame of mind. Not saying they are always positive b/c we all have our moments. But they have been through the storm time and time again and they refuse to let negative thoughts consume them. And thats not b/c at one point life was easy or they are just tricking themselves. They realize negative thoughts wont get you anywhere. And that it can always be worse.
herpes:
Dont get me wrong though, plenty of people are able to keep a positive state of mind b/c they have been dealt a good hand in life. People that don't know what it's like to struggle or whatever. But it's not fair to lump those that weather and battle the storm everyday into the groups you listed.
zilla:
This just shows how you don't have much hope in life.
Religion for example is practiced to create hope, it is hope that eventually creates a positive outlook on life, and that will eventually build one's character. Happiness can most definitely be a decision if you chose it to be.
Don't worry though, most Muslims don't believe in a positive outlook, so you are doing a good job in that department.
TraceOneInfinite:
To answer Tom, its not neccasarily that the person may have had a better or worse life. Maybe the "positive" thinker has had a worse life and therefore he has the confidence that he can overcome adversity. Or maybe he has had a better life and so he has confidence that he can be happy cause he knows most of his life he has been happy so he has the confidence that it will come again.
Either way, my point is that it is experiences that determine happiness.
And Rod, I'm talking about real happiness not simply saying you major and this and that so many times that people might believe it and give you cred.
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