Positive Thinking by: Amit Abraham

Dynamics of PositiveThinking

"If you do not know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else"

Thinking is defined as the action of one's mind to produce thoughts. These thoughts can either be negative or positive. Positive thoughts are directed towards problem-solving behaviour. Negative thoughts find expression in excuses for the failure or in trying to avoid problem-solving behaviour. One who thinks in the negative direction is called a pessimist while one who thinks in the positive direction an optimist.
Thoughts range between two extremes - autistic and realistic. Autistic thinking is determined primarily by our own needs, wishes and feelings, whereas realistic thinking is determined largely by the requirements of the objective situation. Autistic thinking may frequently be indulged in for self-gratification without considering the reality. This type of thinking is the more primitive mode of thinking, characteristic of the unconscious. It manifests itself most clearly in dreams, but presumably exists as an undercurrent in waking life as well. The fumbled thoughts det he mentally challenged and of normal people, underdens influence of certain drugs, illustrate its activity; ideas are guided solely by a desire for immediate wish fulfilment - with no concern for logic, morality, time reality. Thinking annections or the demands of external reality. Thinking at this level obeys the pleasure principle - the seeking of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Doubt, uncertainty and contradictions have no place in autistic thinking.
Realistic thinking, on the other hand tends to be productive - to be directed towards action or the solution of a problem. This type of thinking is the characteristic mode of preconscious and conscious.
Thinking at this level obeys the reality principle - the regulation and control of behaviour according to the demands of the outside world. Anticipation of probable changes in the environment and of consequences of acts leads to the ability to delay gratification by relinquishing immediate satisfaction in favour of a better-adjusted and more adaptive long-range plan of action.
To understand the basis of thinking it is essential to also know about the dynamics of behaviour. Behaviour refers to goal-directed patterns of reactions which can be observed objectively. It also refers to internal processes such as thinking and emotional reactions, which can be observed introspectively or inferred from external behaviour.
To understand and evaluate behaviour in its totality we have to break the entire process into its various components and establish a clear relationship among them and then only can we evaluate others and ourselves in a positive direction.
Goal-directed patterns of reactions or other external behaviour is the outcome of stimulation. This stimulation can either be from an external or internal source. The organism receives stimulation and emits a response. This response is his behaviour. Many processes are involved in this entire mechanism. First the stimulus is to be attended to and recognised, then perception occurs. Many laws and factors govern perception. The most important factor is our past experience which among others, includes our attitudes, beliefs and values. Together this makes our perception an apperception. Apperception means past experience plus present ones. Thus, the past and present both determine our perception and thereby our behaviour.
Our thinking about others and ourselves is influenced by empathy. Empathy means the understanding and sharing of another person's emotional experience in a particular situation. In other words, empathy is the ability to put one's self in another's place to understand the other person's views and feelings (thought). Where there is no empathy there is no positive thought for the other.
Motivation is another important aspect in behaviour.
Any behaviour is guided by patterns of internal and external conditions. These complexes of internal and external conditions, called motives or drives, serve to direct the organism towards specific goals. Motivation, thus, answers the why of behaviour. Behaviour can be directed towards or away from a goal depending on the type and kind of motivation. We think and then act in accordance with our thought.
Behaviour is finally the outcome of the product of an individual's intelligence. Intelligence is defined as the aggregate global capacity of an individual to act purposefully, to think rationally and to deal effectively with his environment. This definition needs to be broken down and examined in its components.
The first component that needs to be examined is act purposefully. This means that our behaviour should have a definite purpose and direction, ie it should have a motive. Most of us are not acting purposefully. We are acting mostly on the tune of others. Though man is born free but everywhere he is in chains. We have to free ourselves from bondage. We have to be free and think freely. Think and act with a positive attitude towards life. This is the first step towards positive thinking.
The second component to be examined is think rationally. This means having reason and understanding.
Reason and understanding are very essential for positive thinking. Most of us are not thinking reasonably. Our thoughts are centred around and influenced by what others think about us. We live, think and act for others. The psychology of person perception says that we view the world through our perceptive glasses, ie we view others and evaluate them with the point of reference being ourselves. Thus we evaluate others according to what we think about ourselves. Now if we have positive thoughts about ourselves it will help us in thinking more rationally. It will help develop one's reasoning and understanding much better.
The third component is deal effectively with the environment. Effective dealing means efficient manipulation of the environment for psychological, social and economic well-being. However, this is possible only when one is confident about his abilities and potentials. This in turn comes from self-perception.
It is important that we do not underestimate our abilities and potentials or those of others. We all have our plus and minus points. All we have to do is think positively about ourselves, our abilities and potentials, as well as accept our weaknesses and try to overcome them. This will surely work as magic.