Positive Mental Attitude

The 5 Myths of Positive Mental Attitude

Photo by Children At Risk Foundation

“A positive mental attitude is the starting point of all riches,
whether they be riches of a material nature or intangible riches.“
- Napoleon Hill

Okay, so there’s no myth that I am a positive person, or at least striving to be one. However, I am aware that I’m not positive all the time. I am continuously working to become conscientious of my choices, thoughts and reactions. I frequently get asked about positive thinking, and I wanted to first clear up some points of confusion.
Positive people are not living like Pollyanna in some dream world with no hold on reality. Positive people may have an attitude like Pollyanna, but they are not necessarily unrealistic. Positive person are very capable of understanding the reality of a cynic. They just change their mindset to see the reality from a different perspective.
With so many myths about positive mental attitude (PMA), it’s important to separate the truth from the fiction. Let’s explore some of these myths and dive into the truths behind them.

Myth #1: Negative thinking is more realistic.

Have you ever heard a negative person say that they aren’t negative; they’re just being ‘realistic’? This myth keeps people locked in a negative reality of their own creation.
A person’s thoughts, whether positive or negative, do have an effect on their environment. If you think negatively, your mind will automatically seek out confirmation that the world is a terrible place. Seeing is believing, and your mind reinforces your belief that reality is negative. See how it’s a downward spiral of negativity? If you expect negative results, you are less likely to take risks and try new things. Negative thinking masks your impressions in fear.
Positive thinking works the same way. With a positive mental attitude, you’ll seek out positive choices and expect positive results. This helps you move past fear and try things that others may believe “can’t be done”. This typically end in positive results.
A person’s thinking helps determine their reality. Negative thinking is realistic for the negative thinker, but only because their thoughts make it true. Ironically, the positive thinking also sees reality, just in a different light. Both types of people see their own reality, and both consider it the reality.

Myth #2: People with a PMA expect moneybags to fall out of the sky if they wish for them.

Those who don’t believe in positive thinking imagine that positive thinkers expect that their desire will manifest itself if they simply think positively about it. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Everyone who accomplishes anything - whether it’s earning a million dollars or becoming an award-winning actor - accomplish it the same way: by taking action. Positive people have an edge because they believe the object of their desire is attainable. They come from a ‘can-do’ mindset. Their actions are not based on fear or scarcity, but based on possibilities. Thus, a positive attitude helps a person manifest their desires, not simply by dreaming about it, but by inspiring the person to take action.

“It’s the action behind the attraction that makes the dream come true.“

Myth #3: Positive thinking doesn’t change reality

People who believe this myth see a problem and believe that positive thinking will only ignore the ugliness of their reality. The truth is positive thinking doesn’t ignore the problem; it helps you see the problem in a new light. In fact, you don’t even see ‘problems’ as problems. Think about it; regardless of how you react to an external situation, the situation will still be the same. If being upset doesn’t change the outcome of a past situation, wouldn’t it serve you, and your health, to see the positives?
A positive mental attitude creates a mindset of abundance, enthusiasm, and solutions. Instead of thinking about what can’t be done, a positive thinker will not be constrained by ‘can’ and ‘cannot.’ A positive thinker is free to think of new ways to solve problems because they are not limited by fear of failure. When we are in a state of abundance, we provide a fertile ground for possibilities and making dreams a reality. We are in a state of allowance, openly accepting the gifts of life to flow to us. When I realized this principle and shifted my thinking habits, miracles started popping up in my life.
A positive mental attitude can - and indeed does - change reality by allowing a person to act in an entirely different way, thus harvesting entirely different results.

“Successful men become successful only because
they acquire the habit of thinking in terms of success.“
- Napoleon Hill

SPEED CHESS

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What do you fear in life? How is it limiting you? Wouldn’t you like to be free of this even if only for a short time?

If you ever thought chess was a slow-moving, serious even boring game, then think again. Just have a look at these two grandmasters go ‘hammer and tong’ in a version of blitz chess which lasts no more than one minute. It is a whirlwind of movement, energy, attack and defense, all while trying to win and keep up with the clock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzrap8Vtyq’
Now for the purists this type of accelerated chess is nor everyone’s cup of tea. For example, Malcolm Pein, the Daily Telegraph’s chess correspondent, fears that the faster contest loses the “purity” of the traditional game.
He also believes that it could lead to a reduction in the “highest level of the game”. His comments come as Kasporov and Karpov face each other in an exhibition chess match commemorating the 25th anniversary of their marathon first title bout.
“It is a little bit like one day cricket gaining pre-eminence over Test cricket,” said Mr Pein, an International master.
“As a little bit of a traditionalist I am just a little concerned with losing the purity of the slow game where you get the highest level of chess.
“But of course one has to move with the times and in a sense Kasparov and Karpov would not want to play a long match of what they call classical chess because it is just too exhausting.”
The two men waged one of the world’s greatest rivalries when between 1984 and 1990 they met five times for the world championship and pretty much drew even – Kasparov won 21 games, Karpov took 19 and they drew 104 times.
The first title bout started in September 1984 in Moscow and lasted nearly five months before it was halted with no winner declared on the grounds that both were exhausted.
Kasparov won a rematch in 1985 and captured his first world title, at age 22, becoming the world’s youngest-ever champion.
Traditional chess had a five hour limit but with speed chess it is reduced to 25 minutes (Telegraph.co.uk 24/9/09).

But Speed Chess also has it benefits. It can help you to think and evaluate the opponents moves rapidly, identify positional play and develop new strategies. It is also more practical if you have only a short period of time or you are playing a painfully slow player (http://www.101chesstips.com/why-play-speed-chess.jsp).

My invention of Speed Thinking faces similar criticism from some quarters. Somehow it is not as elevated as traditional thinking and quality might suffer. My proposition is that Speed Thinking like Speed Chess is similar to the original game but it also is different (for better and for worse). It can help you improve your traditional thinking just by encouraging you to practice thinking more. Sure you might make more mistakes but you will also learn more. You will also do more and make many more decisions rather than procrastinating.
So if you only have limited time then start thinking without the fear of making mistakes. Speed Thinking like Speed Chess is great fun and with any skill you will become better at it, the more you do it.

Posted by Dr Ken Hudson