I am here again to spread some more notes on positive thoughts !
All of us feel shattered by events at times, but the disciplined among us not only cope, they also emerge stronger. The positive emotions generated in us are easy to live with and are more than welcome but the negative ones are hard to endure. While human beings are capable of deep and varying emotions, they are also mercifully blessed with the power to think. And it is this rational part of the mind which can help to undo the damage that our emotions can do to us.
In the words of Shekspheare, ‘There is nothing good or badbut thinking makes it so.’ This well known saying might seem very simplistic, but it is a fact that behind every emotion there is always a thought, even though we might not be consciously aware of it. And since we can control our thoughts, the practice of thinking positively is worth cultivating.
In other words, we can change a disturbing emotion to a pleasant one by changing our thoughts. For example, imagine that you are walking down a road and see a friend at the other end. You realise that the friend has spotted you. You wave out to her but he or she takes no notice of you. The negative thought will be that he or she has deliberately ignored you and you will experience a feeling of rejection and hurt.
But you can try to think differently by telling yourself that may be, she is preoccupied with some disturbing problem of her own and has not really noticed you. Not only will you not feel hurt and rejected, but you may even feel sympathy for her.
It is important to realise at the outset that while we may try to change others according to our likes and dislikes, we are unlikely to succeed. The only person we can really change is ourself, and this change we can achieve by altering our attitudes to people and circumstances.
Anger, for instance, is thoroughly negative emotion . Of course, it is normal for us to feel angry sometimes, because we are not saints but are imperfect human beings. But one often regrets the expression of angry feelings, especially if they are impulsive. So calm appraisal of the situation can be made which might dull the sharpness of our angry feelings, as we look at both sides of the problem.
Anger is the price we pay for someone ele’s mistakes! Our angry feelings harm only us ( both mentally and physically) because the target of our anger is not even aware of these destructive emotions and remains unaffected.
Another emotion that is built into us is anxiety. We find ourselves worrying about day-to-day things which we must do and have not done. Worry, in fact, can help us to be real achievers. But worry can also be destructive.
We imagine the worst when it comes to matters relating to our spouses, our children or to whom we care the most. Worrying about something is far worse than the thing itself, for our worry feeds on our imagination . Also, constant worry depletes our emotional and physical energy so that when we are faced with a major problem, we cannot cope with it as well as we could have, if we had not used up so much of our energy earlier.
When confronted with a problem that might seem insurmountable, we can distract ourselves by turning our minds to something else. Creative activities like writing or reading, especially if they are already hobbies , can be taken up at such times.
No wonder, social work has been reffered to by someone as “selfish altruism,” which may seem a contradiction in terms. We have to live with our emotions , both positive and negative, but we can nurture the positive ones while minimising the effect of the destructive ones. The extent to which we can do this will ultimately decide how well adjusted or otherwise we might be. Our happiness or unhappiness in life will depend largely on our ability to control our emotions by tempering them without reason!
A beautiful post Shoba. Be Positive is a topic which remains fresh always. Because most of us are at different levels of awareness. If we can pratcice humilty and reduce our egos anger even if it comes due to other peoples misdeeds would be nominal.
Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree with your words Dilip and that’s why I could not stop myself on posting yet another blog on positive thoughts . Appreciate your comments !
Great post, thoughts are so important and that is why we should make them positive! Life is so much better looking positively into it . Ute 🙂
Very realistic comment 🙂 Positive thoughts also helps to improve ones looks and appearance, scientific research have proved it !
Absolutely true, it’s an all rounder greeat thing! Ute
Agree! we all have the authority in everything that comes out from our mouth. So we have to be very positive!
Everyone would benefit from this post. positive and encouraging words…
Thanks so much for reading and commenting ! I am glad you find it encouraging !
I like that a nice positive take and a quote from Shakespeare, not sure which one of these two made my day more, but combine them both and you get a big smile off of me.
Thankyou very much Sir, I am overwhelmed by your encouraging words!
A great post and an inspiring one too…
Anger hurts us and no one else.. Just by our way of thinking we can make our moments both pleasant or gloomy…
A nice initiative of spreading positivism in the world.. we lack it high time…
Hope u have read the book THE SECRET… Its all about being positive..
Thankyou Manjulika for your good words ! No I haven’t read that book, would love to read it
if I’ll get it by any chance 🙂
Great post! I never paid heed to the ‘positive thinking’ advices when I was young. Slowly I am realizing its importance.
So true.
I am so blessed to have come across this blog site and the message that’s specifically written for me. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful piece.