Affirmative action
Life can have many challenges. People often say we should think positively. But just thinking positively is not enough. We must make good choices. A good example is when you see dark clouds. You can think positively that that sun will soon be shining. Or you can pack an umbrella so you do not get wet if it rains. We can learn from our past experiences. We can learn to better cope with new challenges.
Posted by: Kate Giles, on 01/02/11
Many of us know people who think positively all the time
Some sayings can really irritate people. The saying think positive
is a good example. There are times when it feels like your whole world is crumbling around you. All you can see is devastation. Then someone says: Everything will be OK. Just be positive.
Many of us know people who think positively all the time. They do not seem to worry about anything. They seem happy all the time. They constantly play, laugh and joke. It can seem that thinking positive is powerful.
Warning signs
If you look out the window and see dark clouds gathering, this tells you that rain might be on its way. You can try thinking positively that the sun will shine. But if you go out without your umbrella, you might get to your destination completely sodden. The warning signs were there telling you what you needed to do.
Life is full of ups and downs and twists and turns. That is just the way life is!
We must make the most effective choices to successfully survive the hard knocks. We must be continually asking ourselves the hard questions. The answers to these questions come from past experiences. The ups and downs and twists and turns not only hide countless questions. They also give us loads of answers.
Stop and think
Problems in life can make us stop and think. Many difficulties can be a sign that things are not right. They can encourage us to ask if we need to consider a new direction. It might also be time of reflection on our values. Are our values still relevant to our current situation or well-being?
We can learn to be more resilient. We can learn to more effectively handle upsetting situations. Tough situations might include being confronted with illness, disability and grief.
Positive action
Challenging experiences can help give us directions on what we need to do. They can also help us decide where we need to be. They can open many doors we may not have seen or even considered. But we need to see the warning signs of the dark clouds. We need to know that if these clouds open up we may well be drenched. We need to be well-protected against the downpour. It requires more than positive thinking. It requires positive action to life’s realities.
Next time someone tells you to think positively, just take a deep breath. You can silently wish them luck. Then you can get on with what you really need to do.
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