The Powerless of Positive Thinking

Some people believe -- or would like to believe -- that to "achieve" the optimal life that they envision is simply a matter of thinking correctly. In other words, they figure that it's all about how you think. If you think positively, you'll ultimately experience positive results; and the same goes for the opposite.

This is true.

However, it's not the whole picture -- and this is where the problem lies for many, many people.

Let's start with the true part. Yes, if you allow yourself to value the positive in a situation, a person, an event or some other aspect of life, then that is most certainly a very intelligent way to live. It allows you to identify possibilities and be open to change in ways that people who are obsessively negative simply can't.

So far, so good.

But the "problem" with positive thinking, is that it's still thinking and that means that it requires mind -- and peace cannot, does not, and never will come exclusively through the mind.

Have you ever been in a "zone"? When you were so deeply immersed in an activity (perhaps a sport, or a hobby, or something that you really love doing), that you were there, the activity was there...but your mind wasn't there? It's not that you were "stupid" -- in fact, you were performing at the peak of intelligence. There was an inner harmony and clarity that aligned itself with reality -- you were one with reality.

That's because there was no narrative, thought-obsessed mind getting in the way of you and reality.

Yes, use your mind -- it's a tool. But don't be used by it. Positive thinking is valuable only when you need to think. But when you don't need to think: DON'T THINK.

Meditation is nothing more than the process of alertly experiencing reality without thoughts; of doing it with awareness. We experience this level of no-thought in deep sleep, but we aren't conscious -- we aren't alert. To experience this state of being while alert -- to simply co-exist with the absolute vastness of inner space -- is meditation, and it is the best compliment to positive thinking that there is.

So yes, think positively. Focus on solutions and harmony. Look for points of agreement. Do all of that -- it will brighten your life and those around you. But -- don't think when you don't have to.

And believe it or not, most of the time, you don't have to.