?Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.?

Abraham Lincoln

Our thinking habits have a lot to do with our success or failure in life. They can make it heaven or hell. We should acknowledge our negative thinking as it is an integral part of positive psychology. It helps, as defensive pessimism does, people accomplish their aims. Defensive pessimism is a strategy that helps us work through our anxious thoughts rather than deny them, to achieve our goals. Dr Norem (2001) discusses this concept in his book: The positive power of negative thinking. It is not a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. Pessimists have only pleasant surprises. Optimism improves our social life and motivates us to never give up, turning failures and setbacks into comebacks and successes. Running away will never make you free.

To turn the mind towards the positive, inner work and training are required. Attitude and thoughts do not change overnight. We see an excellent example of despondency in the Bhagvad Gita where the two armies are facing each other. Arjuna was prepared to go to war but, when faced with the hard decision of fighting and killing his own people who stood in the opposing army, he felt dejected and unable to move; he informed Krishna, his charioteer, that he was not ready to face the enemy who happened to be his own kith and kin. At that moment, he was already defeated in his mind. He was ready to run away and let go of his weapon when Krishna helped him change his attitude and thoughts after quite a long dialogue. A transformation took place in Arjuna when he said ?I am ready to fight? and picked up the weapon of war. That change signified his success. He had faced his worst fears and won the day. That was the power of positive thinking in action.

?Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images conducive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favourable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds?, writes Remez Sasson. Not everyone believes in positive thinking. Some consider it as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who accept it. Even among the latter, few know how to use it effectively to get results. Yet, it seems that many are showing interest in this subject, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it. This subject is gaining popularity.

The new field of positive psychology is full of examples from ancient wisdom and applications in modern psychology. In Too much wisdom, a social psychologist at the University of Virginia has tried to describe the causes of human flourishing and obstacles to well-being that we place in our paths. He writes: ?Our emotions, our reactions to events, and some mental illnesses are caused by the mental filters through which we look at the world.?

We should not underplay the power of positive thinking in healing and alternative therapies. David Hamilton, a former research scientist within the pharmaceutical industry, backs his theories with hard evidence from respected academic journals. He has researched the power of positive thinking and holistic healing; he firmly believes that the medical establishment can learn a lot from alternative thinking. In the course of researching for his book, The astonishing evidence for the power of mind over matter, David Hamilton has reviewed hundreds of scientific papers that look at the effects of thoughts and emotions on the healing process.

Not everyone believes in positive thinking. Some consider it as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who accept it. Even among the latter, few know how to use it effectively to get results.

Studies of the effects of music, positive thinking, touch and faith on patients suffering from illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and Parkinson?s disease, have shown measurable effects. Hamilton believes that, in many cases, medicine may catch up. He says: ?Science will not progress unless it starts to look at what it often condemns as Woo Woo stuff.? Talking of the placebo effect, he says it points to a real phenomenon that we haven?t even begun to grasp; the placebo effect is a scientific fact, which cures thousands of people every year."

Positive psychology in wellbeing and healing is occupying a central place in research. Recently I read a report about an experiment allowing NHS patients easier access to alternative and complementary therapies that has been launched by NI Secretary Peter Hain. The £200,000 year-long trial will run in two health practices in Londonderry and Belfast. The main focus will be on anxiety and musculoskeletal problems. GPs will be able to refer patients for therapies like acupuncture, homeopathy and massage. Mr. Hain said it would help those who could not afford private treatments. The pilot, announced last October by Health minister Paul Goggins, will be run by Get Well UK, a non-profit organization, promoting greater access to complementary and alternative medicine.

Our thinking attitude is closely linked to positive psychology which is central to all aspects of our life. Robert F. Kennedy?s (1968) address at the University of Kansas, made a very relevant point when he said: ?The gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of our education or the joy of their play?it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.?

This is the key to positive psychology, the study of the conditions and processes that contribute to the optimal functioning of people, groups, and institutions. Researchers in positive psychology are now involved in studies, which make life worthwhile; they are examining the psychological underpinnings of happiness and morality; techniques to improve well-being such as mindful meditation, journal writing, well-being therapy and others.

Gable & Haidt (2005) observe: "In the field of close relationships, studies have examined how couples respond to each other?s misfortune (e.g. social support) or bad relationship behaviour (e.g. criticisms and infidelities) but little is known about how couples respond to each other?s triumphs (e.g. savouring positive events) or good relationship behaviour (compliments and displays of affection); there are very few studies examining couples having fun together. In the area of morality, there are thousands of published studies on negative emotions (anger, contempt and disgust); there are few empirical studies on positive emotions; the emotions we feel when others do good things (gratitude, admiration, and moral elevation). The authors note that beliefs such as optimism and a sense of personal control are protective factors for psychological and physical health.

If you want to change your life, change your attitude first. Positive thoughts can only demonstrate a positive approach to life; this is what makes life worthwhile as Robert Kennedy reminded us.

Ref: S. L. Gable and J. Haidt (2005) ?What (and Why) is Positive Psychology?? Review of General Psychology, Vol.9.N0.2, pp103-110.

<B>David B. Lingiah