Dream On

Positive thinking as a term needs to be more clearly defined. Positive thinking means something different to different people so that it is misleading to use it generically without qualifying it. A happy face and cheerful disposition may be only a mask or a genuine expression of an internal experience.

Positive thinking for a "wise" person is not the same as positive thinking for an immature person reading a self improvement book.

So obviously when "acting happy" is not authentic it does not serve us. To superimpose positive thinking on top of unhealed self destructive belief systems does not work but as a starting point it may be better than negative thinking.

Who else can do "Negative thinking - critical analysis and the kind of social progress ignited by self-interested discontent -- has great value for our species as well as our society" better than Dr. Gregory House? :-)

The greatest progressive, Theodore Roosevelt, was a tremendous optimist. It is false to think that optimists somehow ignore injustice. In fact, the opposite it true. Optimists are far more likely to get involved in positive social change. Optimists are more likely to give blood, give money to worthy causes, and generally contribute far more to society. Anyway, our society is a tremendous success, and while there are people homeless, they do have access to food, medical care, and social support.

Positivity and its correlate, the more ephemeral experience of happiness, have been shown to have very important benefits to individual's physical and mental health,but are not a panacea for either. Happiness itself is the outgrowth of right action and thinking. Attempting to make happiness a goal, rather than an outcome, can tend to create more unhappiness. Likewise, maintaining unhappiness in order to motivate positive behavior doesn't make sense either. Reframing negative thoughts to more rational ones is not the same as merely repeating an affirmation that may or may not be rational. A healthy, positive person is not a "bliss ninny", but someone who is the most capable of "right action" in any situation.

My grandma used to say, "Prepare for the worst, Hope for the best." But, if the worst does happen, don't crawl under the covers and cry, roll up your sleves and do something about it! Over coming adversity in itself can create positive feelings. As in "Wow, I did it, I made it through." And if I did that, I can do/face anything.

In the early 80's my best friend fought to beat leukemia. She was beseiged with well wishers, shamans, gris-gris, teddy bears, crystals, positive thinking books, tapes, wall placards, etc. She became increasingly depressed and happily enraged that everyone was so quick to blame her bad attitude for her leukemia. Even her husband. She was polite for the most part to her well wishers, but after they left, we would repurpose the good vibe booty and make up new curses, brutally mock the bejeezus out of the earnest, have a stiff shot of illicit Jack Daniels and laugh our asses off. We even took up smoking since she could no longer get lung cancer. I know this sustained us both. Her pure angry soul props me up in my waivering confrontations with mindless good will. I need to help with mindless ill-will- and that's the issue - mindless good will is insidious. Good on Psychology Today for providing Dream ON!!!! Patty would love it.

In June I attended the first International Congress on Positive Psychology - held in Philadelphia. About 1600 people registered for the conference which was sponsored by the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA). I found it fascinating that when space for the talk by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was filled, participants blocked aisles and entrances to hear him. When those causing an unsafe situation were asked to leave, they loudly objected and stood firm. The conference organizers had to call the Fire Marshall to intervene. I have never seen such a self-centered, inconsiderate group of people in my life. They may claim to have a commitment to thinking positively, but they are positively unthinking.