Good Versus Bad Thoughts

 

Our thread today is one of the simplest thoughts I ever considered to spend time, that is GOOD versus BAD THOUGHTs.  Per se, it's pretty normal to have those BAD OR GOOD THOUGHTs from time to time BUT what's quite alarming are the results of recent researches showing that, generally, BAD THOUGHTs may likely lead to 'BAD LIFE' WHEREAS GOOD THOUGHTs may likely lead to 'GOOD LIFE'.  Word of caution here, GOOD LIFE DOESN'T imply you'll be instantly successful WHILE BAD LIFE DOESN'T necessarily mean you're instantly a total wreck😡😡😡😡

NOT surprisingly, experts opine that as a general rule, BAD begets BAD, GOOD begets GOOD.  And that dovetails with their studies that lead to the fact that personality traits such as optimism and pessimism can indeed affect numerous areas of our health and well-being.  That POSITIVE thinking that usually comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress.  And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits, which on the other end, if we tend to be entertaining those BAD thoughts, e.g. pessimism, we can be courting trouble more than anything else.  In Feng Shui, although I am NOT an ardent believer of it, Feng Shui experts keep harping that BAD thoughts begets BAD results WHILE the GOOD thoughts may likely lead you to GOOD results!!!

Thrice I attended events hosted by Francis Kong, a highly respected business and motivational speaker WHO did highlight multiple times that POSITIVE thinking DOESN'T mean that we should ignore life's pleasant situations.  Simply put, POSITIVE thinking means that we approach unpleasantness in a more POSITIVE and productive way.  In the fewest words, it's kind of thinking that the best is going to happen [and NOT the worst].  Oh YES, I remember his opening statements:  POSITIVE THINKING OFTEN STARTS WITH SELF-TALK.  Digging in, self-talk is that endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head.  YES, those can be POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE thoughts❎❎❎

Through the years, I did recognize that those 'automatic thoughts' can either be POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.  YES, some of our own self-talk comes from logic and reason.  Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that we tend to create because of that lack of information OR even expectations due to probable preconceived ideas of WHAT may happen.  And if those thoughts that run through our head end up to be predominantly NEGATIVE, it is very very likely that our outlook on life is more likely pessimistic.  On the other hand, if your thoughts tend to be frequently POSITIVE, there is that likelihood that you are an optimist, someone WHO practices POSITIVE thinking😌😌😌

Our takeaway:  Rather than exert extra efforts to dig deeper on this thread, allow me to paste EN TOTO the below health benefits of POSITIVE thinking [as published by Mayo Clinic:

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress and pain
• Increased resistance to illnesses
• Better psychological & physical well-being
• Better coping skills during the times of stress