Thursday, June 10, 2010
I have concluded...
I have concluded that my belief is valid in some circumstances and not in others.
Why myth matter to me
Why this myth matters to me?
This myth matters to me because I have struggled with the issue of happiness for a long time. I’ve read many books telling me that positive thinking was the answer to me problem, so I tried it, and it didn’t work. Therefore, I can relate to the study in my Read this/Not that section that talks about the people who were placed in the study and told to think happy thoughts were it made them feel worse. I myself suffer from depression and believe anything that can make us feel worse shouldn’t be told to us. So I just want to inform people who are not able to change their thoughts the truth about this belief.
This myth matters to me because I have struggled with the issue of happiness for a long time. I’ve read many books telling me that positive thinking was the answer to me problem, so I tried it, and it didn’t work. Therefore, I can relate to the study in my Read this/Not that section that talks about the people who were placed in the study and told to think happy thoughts were it made them feel worse. I myself suffer from depression and believe anything that can make us feel worse shouldn’t be told to us. So I just want to inform people who are not able to change their thoughts the truth about this belief.
So What?
So what?
The implication of this belief is the millions of dollars that are lost every year by hopeful Americans. Trying to give yourself self-help does add up. This belief can also make one more depressed. As I stated before, evidence does show that for people with low self-esteem and who are depressed suffer the worse from this belief. The future implications of this belief are unknown. However, I know the belief is causing us to be too hard on ourselves, that’s why I can glad that the field of positive psychology has been created. Now it is possible for us to have more scientifically proven ways to make ourselves happy.
The problem with this belief is the lack of evidence supporting it. As I have proven in my research, we are only able to change our thoughts/emotions to a certain extent. Therefore, other methods are needed if we are really going to feel better.
The implication of this belief is the millions of dollars that are lost every year by hopeful Americans. Trying to give yourself self-help does add up. This belief can also make one more depressed. As I stated before, evidence does show that for people with low self-esteem and who are depressed suffer the worse from this belief. The future implications of this belief are unknown. However, I know the belief is causing us to be too hard on ourselves, that’s why I can glad that the field of positive psychology has been created. Now it is possible for us to have more scientifically proven ways to make ourselves happy.
The problem with this belief is the lack of evidence supporting it. As I have proven in my research, we are only able to change our thoughts/emotions to a certain extent. Therefore, other methods are needed if we are really going to feel better.
Who's driving this belief
Who’s driving this belief?
The popular media and self-help industry are the ones who are really driving this belief. This is very apparent in the millions of books, DVDs, CDs, and movies that provide techniques on how to think positively. I also think many Americans in general drive this belief. All America is about is quick fixes and everyone in America what’s a quick fix. Who wants to go to the doctor or psychologist when they can fix themselves? The self-help industry’s popularity can be also seen in the amount of money many Americans spend on self-help tools every year. It runs in the millions.
I think many of us drive this belief also because we want control of our lives. Life can be very chaotic and knowing what we can and can’t control is very comforting. It gives up peace. This belief can also give us hope for a better day. It’s a good thought to have when ones feels like they have no other alternatives, think they themselves can make themselves happy. The ideal also seem pretty logical to. Why won’t we be able to control our thoughts.
The popular media and self-help industry are the ones who are really driving this belief. This is very apparent in the millions of books, DVDs, CDs, and movies that provide techniques on how to think positively. I also think many Americans in general drive this belief. All America is about is quick fixes and everyone in America what’s a quick fix. Who wants to go to the doctor or psychologist when they can fix themselves? The self-help industry’s popularity can be also seen in the amount of money many Americans spend on self-help tools every year. It runs in the millions.
I think many of us drive this belief also because we want control of our lives. Life can be very chaotic and knowing what we can and can’t control is very comforting. It gives up peace. This belief can also give us hope for a better day. It’s a good thought to have when ones feels like they have no other alternatives, think they themselves can make themselves happy. The ideal also seem pretty logical to. Why won’t we be able to control our thoughts.
Examples in popular culture
Examples in popular culture
Below I have provided some examples showing how popular the myth “When down in the dumps, think yourself happy by focusing on the positive” really is in popular culture.
Millions of copies of a book and DVD movie called The Secret have been sold. Rhonda Byrne wrote the book. It primary theme is for us to focus on our positive thoughts to get what we want in life; another word for this is the law of attraction. This book and DVD has been talk about on the Oprah show many times; Oprah’s a huge supporter of this book and DVD. I myself didn’t know anything about it until I watched one of her shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0wYxh-akZs
The above is a You Tube clip of Oprah describing to Larry King just how much she believes in the book.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ob8sr9ZX0
This is a You Tube clip of an episode of Sesame Street. Elmo is singing a song called
“Happy Thoughts;”in it he is supporting the belief, “When down, happy thoughts will lift you up.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RtH02A98Zs
This above you tube clip is a good example of how the belief of positive thinking is marketed. The book they are talking about is one of the first in the self-help industry of positive thinking. The author is Norman Vincent Peale and he is considered the father of positive thinking.
Below I have provided some examples showing how popular the myth “When down in the dumps, think yourself happy by focusing on the positive” really is in popular culture.
Millions of copies of a book and DVD movie called The Secret have been sold. Rhonda Byrne wrote the book. It primary theme is for us to focus on our positive thoughts to get what we want in life; another word for this is the law of attraction. This book and DVD has been talk about on the Oprah show many times; Oprah’s a huge supporter of this book and DVD. I myself didn’t know anything about it until I watched one of her shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0wYxh-akZs
The above is a You Tube clip of Oprah describing to Larry King just how much she believes in the book.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ob8sr9ZX0
This is a You Tube clip of an episode of Sesame Street. Elmo is singing a song called
“Happy Thoughts;”in it he is supporting the belief, “When down, happy thoughts will lift you up.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RtH02A98Zs
This above you tube clip is a good example of how the belief of positive thinking is marketed. The book they are talking about is one of the first in the self-help industry of positive thinking. The author is Norman Vincent Peale and he is considered the father of positive thinking.
The most important misunderstanding
Most Important Misunderstanding
The most important misunderstanding about this the myth “When down, think yourself happy by focusing on the positive” is that its easy to do and that when we are not able to do it something most be wrong with us. I hope after reading this blog that you realize that nothing is wrong with you if you are not able to change your mood with your thoughts. Changing your thoughts/emotions is not easy. Our quick fix society wants us to believe that anything we can’t do ourselves is our fault. This is the worse thing we can say to ourselves, especially when we are down. Therefore, I suggest being easier on yourself or anyone you know who tries to lift their mood by thinking positive thoughts.
If you’re interested in learning ways that have been proven to make other happier; I suggest reading about positive psychology. Its main focus is to make the individual happy through having them look at the positive things about their life or selves more. In my Read this, Not that section, I have also included an article on positive psychology. The article is very informal about this new field and the author’s also provide the readers with scientifically supportive ways to increase ones happiness.
The most important misunderstanding about this the myth “When down, think yourself happy by focusing on the positive” is that its easy to do and that when we are not able to do it something most be wrong with us. I hope after reading this blog that you realize that nothing is wrong with you if you are not able to change your mood with your thoughts. Changing your thoughts/emotions is not easy. Our quick fix society wants us to believe that anything we can’t do ourselves is our fault. This is the worse thing we can say to ourselves, especially when we are down. Therefore, I suggest being easier on yourself or anyone you know who tries to lift their mood by thinking positive thoughts.
If you’re interested in learning ways that have been proven to make other happier; I suggest reading about positive psychology. Its main focus is to make the individual happy through having them look at the positive things about their life or selves more. In my Read this, Not that section, I have also included an article on positive psychology. The article is very informal about this new field and the author’s also provide the readers with scientifically supportive ways to increase ones happiness.
What do people mean
What People Mean
1. What do people mean?
2. What are other ways to say it?
3. What is it suppose to do for you?
4. How would professionals label the myth?
There are two different ways the statement “When do in the dumps, think yourself happy by focusing on the positive” can be looked at.
First, it is enforcing the popular belief that we can control our thoughts/emotions with our mind. Second, it is telling us that positive thoughts will make us happier.
Other variations of the myth:
Positive thinking
Positive self-talk
Affirmation
Positive attitude
Don’t Worry Be happy
Your thoughts control your world
New Thought Movement
Things the myth is suppose to do for you:
Reduces stress
Increase life satisfaction
Boost ones self-esteem
Boost ones confidence
Provide personal growth
Other ways the myth can be looked at as being:
A self-improvement technique
A self-empowering instrument people can use to change their lives
A way to affirm your true potential
A way to make yourself feel better
A form of personally development
How professionals in the field of psychology world define the myth:
Cognitive restructuring
Though suppression
Mind Control
1. What do people mean?
2. What are other ways to say it?
3. What is it suppose to do for you?
4. How would professionals label the myth?
There are two different ways the statement “When do in the dumps, think yourself happy by focusing on the positive” can be looked at.
First, it is enforcing the popular belief that we can control our thoughts/emotions with our mind. Second, it is telling us that positive thoughts will make us happier.
Other variations of the myth:
Positive thinking
Positive self-talk
Affirmation
Positive attitude
Don’t Worry Be happy
Your thoughts control your world
New Thought Movement
Things the myth is suppose to do for you:
Reduces stress
Increase life satisfaction
Boost ones self-esteem
Boost ones confidence
Provide personal growth
Other ways the myth can be looked at as being:
A self-improvement technique
A self-empowering instrument people can use to change their lives
A way to affirm your true potential
A way to make yourself feel better
A form of personally development
How professionals in the field of psychology world define the myth:
Cognitive restructuring
Though suppression
Mind Control
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