Concept - Positive thinking

Positive thinking is the practice or result of concentrating one's mind affirmatively on what is constructive and good, thereby eliminating from it negative or destructive thoughts and emotions. Whether it be business, family, or health, the most fulfilled and successful individuals in those categories practice positive thinking. Since the concept of positive thinking has not been clearly defined, positive thinking usually is bypassed or used incorrectly and is often simply referred to by the concept of optimism. Because many individuals do not know what comprises positive thinking, it is often referred to as optimism, usually totally leaving out very important aspects of positive thinking.

DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT

The concept of positive thinking can be break-down into three intertwined subdivisions:

1. Internal cognition,

2. Faith, and

3. Influential personal relationships.

An individual has three options. One can chose to be positive, one can chose to be negative, or one can chose not to chose and allow the external environment to determine how one internally feels and externally acts. The same goes for being happy, grateful, thankful, satisfied, optimistic, etc. For example, before you open your eyes in the morning, you can chose to be happy or you can chose to be unhappy. Most people do not make a choice. They chose to open their eyes and open the bedroom curtains. If it is raining, the first assumption is made that the day is going to be bad. If the decision had been made to be happy before waking up and had then looked outside at the rain, it would not have had a negative affect because the decision had already been made that it was going to be a great day.

It is true that external circumstances do have an impact on an individual’s internal environment. Many people take a new situation and automatically turn it into a negative situation, which affects one’s internal state. External factors must feed one’s chosen internal attitude, which will make one’s internal cognition more positive. A more positive internal cognitive state will in turn aid in focusing one’s attention to one’s purpose.

Internal Cognition

The internal cognitive thought process of positive thinking is purpose based. One’s purpose, or greater reason for living, is what drives a person’s internal cognition, or inner thought process. Purpose is defined as something one intends to get or do; intention; aim; the object for which something exists or is done; determination. A burning desire, or internal fire, must be ignited from within in order for a person to be inspired, which in turn leads a person to act on a thought. The driven internal thought process leads to extension action. Having a purpose, which rules you and drives your thought process daily, your internal cognition, keeps you focused on a goal. A prupose in Life (PIL) test was invented by J.C. Crumbaugh “that attempts to measure the degree to which an adult has life goals.” Crumbaugh’s test is based on the concept of “wioll to meaning,” induced by Viktor Frankl. Will to Meaning (WTM) denotes the need to find a suitable purpose and meaning in one’s life. The WTM is the basis and fundamental motivation of logotherapy, developed by Frankl as a technique for addressing problems related to the contemporary existence of meaninglessness.

Positive thinkers dwell on the positive, they dwell on their purpose, they dwell on the things in their external and internal environment that feed their purpose rather than on the negative, which feeds defeat of their purpose. There must be harmony with one’s internal and external states, so purpose can be transformed into action.