Thu, April 11 at 10:47 am GMT
hello fam
so today i would like to share with you something about the book i have read, its called The Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
One of the lessons I learned from Victor E. Frankl’s classic Mans Search for Meaning is that once we find meaning, happiness is not far behind. In The Power of Positive Thinking Norman Vincent Peale points out that we can choose to be happy. However, as with creating an inflow of new thoughts that is easier said than done. One of the strategies Frankl talks about is finding meaning in every situation. There is a reason behind all of the decisions we’ll make. Therefore we need to focus on the positives. Even if the circumstances that we’re in are less than ideal. This book taught me that we ultimately have control over our outcomes.
The most impactful chapter for me was 8: I Don’t Believe in Defeat. The title alone sends a strong message. Peale first instructs the reader to eliminate defeatist thoughts. “If you are thinking thoughts of defeat, I urge you to rid yourself of such thoughts, for as you think defeat you tend to get it”. I found the message impactful. The quote is very impactful for me because It takes me back to when I played basketball. In sports, you need to have the irrational confidence that you’re going to win. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers would not have been the first team in NBA history to come back in the NBA finals down 3–1 without believing they could. Similarly, Apple would not have beat IBM in the PC wars without internal belief.
However, there will be obstacles when achieving your goals. Obstacles are movable objects. So why do we tend to give these obstacles more weight than they should have? There has never been a challenge that we’ve faced that someone else in human history hasn't also faced. Throughout your journey, we can expect to encounter obstacles. This book has shown me how to reshape how I think about obstacles as challenges, and to look for solutions to my challenges instead of adopting the mindset of defeat.
“ The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” Altering the thoughts that flow through your mind is easier said than done. It requires awareness and mindfulness. In this chapter, Peale describes why we need to have a constant inflow of new thoughts. We’re able to think our way to failure and unhappiness. Because we’re able to think our way to failure and or success wouldn’t it be wise to choose to think about success?
Every success ever obtained started with a thought. For example, what if there was a personal computer with graphical user interfaces? Or what if there were a way where people could rent out their homes to travelers? Do these ideas sound familiar? Not only can thoughts create ideas that lead to billions of dollars in value, but they can also improve your life.
If I want to change my circumstances, I need to start by changing my thoughts. Think differently, and the results will follow. We must think of things of how they should be. Begin executing with that thought in mind, and you’ll achieve what you want. Believe and succeed.
I want to touch on creating happiness as my final thought because that is the state of mind we all aim to achieve. We can choose to be happy. If I’m ever having difficulty making that choice, I look to find meaning in what I’m doing. For example, a simple “chore” such as cleaning my apartment can be upgraded from a “chore” to an activity that creates joy in my life when I change my mindset to one of gratitude. Instead of doing a “chore,” I am honoring my living space by tidying up. I am grateful to have this clean space. When I find meaning in every day moments, my life is richer, and when I focus on the positives, I become even more powerful.
Thank you
Fahdy.
