Positive Thinking Is Absolutely Useless..

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Positive thinking is absolutely useless if it takes you no where. I see this all over the place all the time. So many people watch motivational movies...Listen to motivational tapes feel great about it but they never do anything to go beyond that feeling point.

They never take action and do the thing they know they should be doing. This is the primary reason why 97% of people out there never get what they want out of life.
#mind warriors #absolutely #positive #thinking #useless
  • Thinking is where it starts but it isn't a substitute for action.
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    • It's the thought that counts, however you won't plough a field by turning it over in your mind. Take action...
    • You create your own positive thoughts, threw the law of attraction
  • Most people keep leveraging action, as if action is the most important way to get what you want or to succeed.

    Doing action with negative thinking first, results to nothing.
    Doing action without thinking first, results to wandering nowhere.
    Doing action with positive thinking first, results to the best results you could ever think of.

    Positive thinking leads to enthusiasm and inspiration. And believe me, if you are inspired, you really can't stop yourself to act. Action is a natural by-product of inspiration. Forced action is so ineffective and inefficient.
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    • 100% agree with robrave.
      Whatever you do you have to be ready and sometimes it's better to wait than jump into action, waste your energy and get no results (so get disappointed and give up). Positive thinking and believing in yourself is very important.
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  • Hard work leads to success whatever you do.

    Positive thinking without hard work ("lazy thinkers") leads to nothing just a "big talk".

    I see so many people thinking of millions without work that I am already sick of it. Remember, there is no free lunch no matter what they say.
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    • No it doesn't.

      Many an unfortunate individual has slaved his whole life away working hard, but on the wrong things.

      Working hard on the right things leads to success. How to do that? Learn to discard what isn't working, and focus on that which is working.
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    • Well said. Someone I once worked for had an expression that stuck with me down through the years: "You'll have what others don't, if you'll DO what others wont". So often, what others won't do is simple to define: hard work.
    • Not without working smart as well as hard. You have to have a smart business plan and put it to action. And just keep trying new things if you fail.
    • I couldn't agree more . There is no free lunch . At some point you are going to have to pay in one way or the other . I used to fall into this group for years

      I would buy lots of motivation books and not doing a single thing they suggest

      I would spend hours watching one motivational movie after the other without actually doing anything suggested

      I would sound really clever when i spoke but i was really broke

      postive thought without actions is day dreaming .

      It is like being hungry and listening to motivational tapes about food

      No matter how many you listen to , if you don't take any steps to get the food nothing is going to change
  • positive thinking is not useless, however it needs to be accompanied by positive actions and also the right actions!

    As they say, positive thinking leads to positive actions, so if you can be positive but also use that with the right information, then it'll be helpful :-)
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    • Positive Thinking Is Absolutely Useless...... unless you're Professor Xavier.

      But as Zig Ziglar says, "positive thinking can't do everything, but it can help you do everything better"
  • What else ....................... thinking is absolutely useful ?
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    • Well an action starts with a thought...but some people hold onto that thought/idea for so long that the action just gets pushed aside.
  • Action - The key ingredient.

    You will fail a lot when you are trying new things as well, but if you are not failing, you are not trying new things.

    And, if you are not trying new things, you will not succeed.

    ALSO, a lot of the times, what you think you want, is not what you are going to get. Just take the first step, keep rolling with it, keep your morals right, don't quit, and you'll get somewhere good.

    BTW, When I say don't quit, that doesn't mean not taking a 6 month break and saying I'M DONE! Then re-grouping and trying something different.

    I have tried so many different things, failed, looked like an idiot, you name it, but eventually I get back up on the horse, try again. I do know that when I fail I almost NEVER make that same mistake 2 times. That is very important.

    I may have went a little off topic.

    Negative thinking is just no good for anyone, you, the people around you, anybody.

    We all do it sometimes tho. It's a constant struggle.

    I feel your pain man, I feel it.
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    • Yup, true, we all do it, and there is a saying which my mentor taught me that goes like this:

      "Hard things get easy when you do them long enough". So while action may seem difficult at first, once applied and implemented long enough, it will begin to run a bit more smoothly.
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    • Yes It is not profitable to think negative. People like when seller is positive - more optimism gives more sales.

      What to do if you think negative? Well... be a little bit fake. Fake optimist. Yes, start with fake smile. Fake positive words etc

      That "fake" step by step will convert into "real". Eventually you will feel positive emotions.

      When I was in total depression - I started to write motivational blog That helped a lot.
  • Well, that's very true. But your caveat is over-dramatic.

    There is no substitute for action. It's up to us individually to not delude ourselves. If you're doing weekly reviews that certainly helps to avoid this delusion.

    Positive think, in and of itself, is infinitely better than negative thinking.
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    • I guess you're right, negative thoughts can be limiting, so at least if we have to think, positive ones will at least lead to better results and more effective action than negative thoughts. But sometimes negative thoughts and feelings can lead to much more massive action, than being positive, but of course that depends on the situation.
  • you have hit the nail on the head my friend.Indeed listening to motivational tapes or reading motivational books is not enough, it the action which counts the most and ultimately yield positive results.
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    • Yeh, and these motivational books and tapes only apply to the people experiencing them in the end, because if one is hearing it, and not doing anything about it, one wont really truly know the experience, and the motivation dies down. So people start to listen to more and more tapes...to get more motivated again, but don't realize that all they had to do was act on what they have already learned to begin with.
  • Success is a journey. It really takes so much good quality for a person to be successful.

    A journey worth to travel. Because when you reach a certain level of success, your personal quality/character has reached certain level also. (Except those who directly inherit great wealth)

    Those who starts from ZERO & went all the way to Billions, this journey builds the character for him.
  • Most people will watch the videos and listen to the cds and even do the affirmations but thats where they leave it. They do forget that the next step is the taking of the positive actions. But sometimes in some videos they do forget to mention the action part aswell.
  • First step is positive thinkings if you have it then you got your goals, some people may need advises to be in right diretion but i am not convinced that positive thinking is absolutely useless.
  • I agree that positive thinking is absolutely useless without supplementing it with action that will give you positive results. But I'll also say that positive thinking helps set the stage for good things and serves as a motivator to make those things happen. So I wouldn't really discount positive thinking. Without it, there wouldn't be much of anything.
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    • In 2008...

      ...a University of Alberta psychology team studied multiple groups of workers assembling printed circuits and deemed the crankier employees superior to their upbeat counterparts. The cheerful people were too invested in their cheerfulness and devoted significant energy to perpetuating it. Their grimacing co-workers simply threw themselves into their work -- and did it better: Malcontents made half as many mistakes.

      Also, aptitude seems to be an overlooked... missing component in the PMA movement where attitude seems to take center stage.
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    • "Positive thinking will let you do anything


      better than negative thinking will!"

      Zig Ziglar
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  • Won't you agree though that having a positive attitude is like the oxygen to action's fire?
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    • there are 2 big problems with "positive attitude":

      many people confuse it with "blanking out any negative realities they may be facing", i.e. big blinkers on, "what bad things I don't see can't hurt me"-type thinking, which is not at all based in and on reality. And usually doesn't get you very far. Which is probably what the OP meant, right?

      the second big problem is -- and this has been scientifically proven using functional MRI -- if you do too much of positive thinking by suppressing negative thoughts, you physically shut off certain parts of your brain and you are no longer able to experience certain mental experiences and emotions.

      the 'non-medical' result of this is: when asking people how (un)happy they are they found this: those who are on a path to success (i.e. a few steps up the success-ladder) will typically increase their happiness by using positive thinking.

      those who don't have a track-record of success and achievement though and who try to get out of it by using positive thinking end up even unhappier, less fulfilled and less successful than if they didn't.

      Veit

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  • I believe Robert Fritz who also says positive thinking is harmful. Most people need realistic thinking. A true understanding of what reality is today. There is no reason to sugar coat where you are. I know several really super successful people who are negative thinkers and jerks. I also know lots of super positive people with great attitudes who are really a mess. Both lots would greatly benefit from a dose of reality.
  • Some people have got the wrong idea from my message. What I mean here is this- Positive thinking is useless IF IT TAKES YOU NO WHERE.

    Which means if you sit at one place and think positive thoughts without taking any action then it's not going to lead to anything much. Action is a necessary thing...Nothing happens until something moves.
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    • Look at that study someone posted in here from the University of Alberta. Disgruntled and negative people get stuff done better! Ha!
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    • I totally agree with what you are saying. I have read many of the books on positive thinking going back to 1989 when I started. Slapping a smile on everything is absurd. Also, "Positive" many times can be a word used to neglect that the actual topic in your head is "Negative" and you are just choosing to be ignorant.

      Real Positive thinking is perception and results. If you fail and enjoy the lesson, really have a love for knowing that you are learning you notice that you will have a humor at your own mistakes and move on...and get results that will satisfy you in the long run. So yes, if it is getting you nowhere, then it is in fact just the word positive being slapped over something negative in the hopes that ignorance will prevent the pain of failure. Positive thinking is great...if you have really come to understand the positivity in your life.

      This is an issue with me because I have many family and friends who think that if you just smile all day and refuse to acknowledge problems and crisis, then that is a good life. These are the types of people who think that watching movies and television all day is a satisfaction because it helps them ignore life. Which of course is like you say "going nowhere" and deriving some sort of sense of "positivity".

      The best point is this, positivity is certainly a grand pursuit in life, but it is certainly not as simple as watching a DVD with a bunch of cute music and graphics. It is the most difficult task anyone can ever achieve in their life, to truly know your own self.
  • I work part time at an office retail store and if you've ever worked retail you know that a bad day will leave you hating... well, everything.

    But my assistant manager has a line he likes to use.

    "Make it happen."

    Running behind zoning the store? "Make it happen."
    Got tons of freight that needs to be put out in 2 hours? "Make it happen."
    Have to sell a protection plan to make quota? "Make it happen."

    Sometimes I fail, sometimes I succeed and sometimes I run late. But I can assure you that someone simply telling me to "make it happen" even on days when I just want to yell and scream and quit, I make it happen.
  • positive thinking is very useful ! at least for me
  • Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds.
    Not everyone accepts or believes in positive thinking. Some consider the subject as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who believe and accept it.
  • ummm...positive thinking without action is useless. Positive thinking without action is what we would call day dreaming and fantasizing.

    I will give you this much, if I could only chose one, ACTION > Positive thinking but they are not mutually exclusive.
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    • Think I should explain where I am coming from. A while back my life was a mess. I was a drunk and arrogant with it. I was the best and everyone else was wrong. I was a really horrible person.

      Then I discovered that I have no money. So not only was I an arrogant drunk, I was now an arrogant drunk with no money.

      This caused me to panic in a very big way. I had to look at myself long and hard. It took me months if not years to pull myself together and it was a hard struggle. I exaggerate not when I say that I was under counselling for mental health problems.

      What I learnt there was to be positive and always speak of yourself in the first person. Always try new things as long as they do not harm you or others.

      As for being positive well that was largely positive thinking and then and only then the action to cause the positive thinking to become a reality.

      I am now not a drunk, I have a business that is starting to work, I am engaged to a beautiful and loving lady called Myrtle.

      I know that what I learnt works. I was taught trained if you like to have a positive I-can belief and a positive self image PSI. Then how to uses emotions to translate these into ways that your brain then uses automatically to make these positive ideas a reality.

      Like I said they worked for me and the counsellor says they have worked for countless others as well.

      Obviously I have adapted what he taught me to best suit me so that I recovered quicker and started to go on my journey to success.

      I am writing this method down in a book that I intend to publish soon. Perhaps those that get a copy will see the results I did. I know not all will but if I can one person then it has been worth it.

      My journey of recovery started with learning to be positive through thought then action.

      I am nothing special just a human like we all are. It does work, it is how we apply it and follow through that matters.
    • But I think that these two things are related, if you have positive thoughts you will take some action for sure, at least it's in my case.
  • The clue is in the phrase. Positive THINKING. Not Positive Acting.
    Thinking does not inevitable lead to action. Thinking is just thinking.
    Positive acting would involve in the first instance acting to put yourself in the right situation where good stuff will show up.(Meeting the right people,creating the right kinds of professional relationships, being surprised by things outside of yourself, ideas other people have)
    In other words it is not just what is INSIDE you but what is OUTSIDE your skin.Objects, people, contexts, situations. Expose yourself to all that. The MUSE will show up.
  • I dropped "positive thinking" for mindfulness and it is working for me. This doesn't mean I don't get excited about ideas and whatnot. I just try to think smart rather than positive. I think you also got to be careful about action. I think a lot of people get excited and then take action without purpose. So they do take action, but then achieve very little.

    Mindfulness - Focus - Action
  • As a stand alone concept sure Positive thinking won't get you very Far.
    However combine an Optomistic Mindset and Carefully planned DMO (Daily Mode of Operation)
    Focus only on IPA (Income producing Activities)
    Checking emails and taking phone calls don't count...
    Stay Consistant with your marketing efforts...and you will see results... Ark
  • Well positive thinking alone is not enough ,it should be accompanied by the solid postive believing and there should be no doubt in your mind about the positive outcome.
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  • It's ultimately our inner and often unconscious belief systems that drive our actions. Many people sabotage their futures because of competing commitments between their stated values and these unconscious belief systems. For example, we can confess our desire to produce large amounts of money but inwardly feel unworthy of these advancements and unknowingly undermine our own success. These inner belief systems often override our good intentions. The answer to this dilemma is to replace our faulty beliefs with better ones, but this is often easier said than done because many of these underground beliefs are attached to old wounds and subsequent fear. Our natural defense mechanisms tend to keep us from "going there." The best way to reprogram our beliefs is by uniting truth with an emotionally charged experience. That's why we often make changes in times of crisis that we normally would not be willing to make. One way to recreate this emotionally charge environment is through repeated emotionally based confessions based upon scripted positive thoughts. It's not a fool-proof method, but is often beneficial if our repeated thoughts and confessions begin to filter into the underground reservoir of belief. If we confess the same thoughts consistently enough we can eventually form new belief systems. It should also be noted that negative thought patterns are actually faith in the very things that we do not want to happen to us...With this in mind, I think positive thinking is a better option over negative thinking any day.
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  • Your thread title is absolutely correct if people don't take action. But positive thinking is quite powerful when you're an action taker. That positivity keeps you focused whenever the going gets tough.

    All the motivation material out there should be seen as a foundation. With the right mindset and will to take action, you can truly accomplish anything.

    - Sam
  • Positive thinking is useful when combined with action; by itself it is not much..but still beats negative thinking.
  • It isn't just about thinking positive or taking action as some others have mentioned. There is so much to be said for visualization, knowing what you want and visualizing it often. Our brains actually become hard-wired to sending out these visual messages and bringing those things we think about into our life. This works to amp up positive thinking in ways just "thinking" alone cannot do.
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    • Interesting comment about thinking isn't a substitute for action. You're right, thinking is the forerunner to action.

      The law of manifestation is thoughts > feelings > actions > results

      Therefore action isn't intended to be a substitute, nature intends it to be the forerunner.
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  • Positive thinking is worthless if there is no action attached to it.
  • hi, thank for useful infor
  • Positive thinking powered by a powerful desire is what works. Desire is the fuel of life wether positive or negative. Build the desire around your goal. Have you noticed a man who desired a women? A powerful desire knows no obstacle. Hope that helps.
  • This is an excellent discussion, I think that everything starts with a thought, but, as you guys said before, action is the KEY to success.

    Also I think that thinking positive too much can be dangerous in some way, because you don't see obvious negative things that are happening in front of you.

    Cheers,

    Juanle
  • Positive thinking is just the start of the process.

    Taking action is more important.

    The most important thing is marching through both the high and low points of the process you started and continuing to your goal
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    • What made a difference for me was in, buying a few books from top entrepeneurs & following as much as possible in what they were saying.

      The common demoninators were drive & determination & that these folk who have huge wealth still work 12 to 14 hour days because of the motivation they have & that is a huge part of why they became wealthy in the first place.

      Positive thinking in itself is useless, unless your willing to take action on your thoughts, but positivity combined with action is a great blueprint for your future success.

      Mark
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  • Positive thinking open doors for us to have a great day. Try it it works.
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    • Well in essence "thinking" is an action. It is the "act" of thinking. We are all, always performing some sort of action, good, bad, little or lots. It's all action.

      The hurdle is taking the next step from positive thinking and turning that thinking into tangible results.

      Positive thinking in itself can't bring your hopes and dreams to fruition. You could think positively until you are blue in the face, but unless you apply the next step of action to whatever it is you are trying to achieve those dreams are not going to miraculously fall into your lap.

      Sure positive thinking is an excellent first step. It can make you feel great, get you excited and pumped! But without further action, positive thinking quickly becomes a dead end.

      Cheers Marianne
    • It's the unshakably committed attitude with constant action that creates results. I see a lot of positive thinking people who laze around hoping for better. Don't get me wrong, hope is strong, but action is stronger
  • A positive mindset and thought pattern is essential for our own personal happiness. This has to be combined with all the senses and emotions to be turned into action. Sitting in an armchair think positive thoughts is NOT enough.

    We have to involve all five senses and our emotions and then take the action that recreates these thoughts, feelings and emotions.
  • Loving the self plug, and regardless of whether or not us humans like it, we still think...and it's only the ones who act more than they think who get results,


    BUT it's only the ones who act more than they think, and when they think they think on how to act better...who see the REAL results.
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    • Either way action always gets you results.
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  • Thinking is only on the surface, thinking alone will never get you to take consistent action. Usually we act first and think later.... Ask yourself this simple question: "Can I honestly say that I know what my next thought will be" or "Do I know what my next action will be ?"

    Hans
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  • I agree with Ready niche investor that you must cultivate a driving desire along with an over all Vision and Mission statement on what your Objectives are Ultimately!
  • ryman, I completely agree.

    Positive thinking should be used to IDENTIFY the positive outcomes in our lives. What can we get out of this to make us better?

    But, it's all completely useless if you don't take action on what you've discovered.

    With that said....positive thinking without action isn't completely useless. It's a healthy thing instead of thinking down in the dumps....for instance...

    I lost my wallet 2 weeks and I had $400 in there that I was going deposit in my bank account....so I thought...k, this can't happen again because I really f ed up here because I had my credit card bill due in a week..

    So I thought....well ok,

    1. I loose my stuff all the time which means I IT'S TIME TO GET MORE ORGANIZED.

    2. Well I had the money so why didn't I just deposit it right away? Honestly, nothing was holding me back...I was just lazy about it...i thought..."oh I'll get around to it this week." Then I had an aha moment...like oh this is the way it should be with all of life....we get an opportunity we only have so long before things get in the way and knock us off track.

    From this I developed my "Exploit Windows of Opportunities method"....every time I realize something I go...oh, whoops I'm doing that again. Then I just fix it real quick and move on with my life...I don't get upset and think why can't I do this! I just fixed it when I remembered then let it go.

    Lastly, I learned that it's important to protect your assets. Keep safe what's important to you and have boundaries....I thought...uhhmmm....well if I wasn't running to the bank, why'd I have all this cash in my wallet?

    I found my wallet 2 days later but I learned the same thing...by that time I completely changed up my room, organized all of my things, and set up a simple schedule that created leverage in my life...and then I put my credit card and one of my debit cards in a safe place because I didn't use them frequently, then i went and deposited my money.


    If I would have thought negatively, this never would have happened....action would have never occured if I just went...

    "Of course. I have to loose my stuff again..."

    But thinking can't get you anywhere without action because your standing still.

    Aaryn
  • And I agree too! Desire is really important if you want to achieve.

    Why would you do something you don't care about?

    Especially if your already doing something you don't care about.
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  • A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. Positive thinking is the first step and remember only one step at a time and it cannot be skip. After having positive thinking, we must take action until it become our habit and the habit will develop our character.
  • This is a really quick one as I can not entirely agree with VeitSchenk. Reason is if I have not read it wrong is that it is stated that you need to have an element of success to start to think positive. If you don't and think positive then you will end up even unhappier and less fulfilled and less successful than if they just trundled along with a head full of negative thoughts.

    I disagree because if I had not started to think positive to turn my life around I would now in all seriousness be DEAD! So it must work unless I am writing from the other side through Jonathan Edwards ;o)

    Yes I agree that positive thinking is not the sole answer but in many cases it is the starting point.

    Hope you liked the truth from a ghost writer. Get it?
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    • Positive thinking can make a huge difference to anyone who really wants to change their lives. I was never a great believer in it until i started reading motivational and personal development books.

      Listening to motivational audio cds is also a great way to feel better about yourself for those who prefer it to reading. I started listening to cds a few years ago and it transformed my life by making me see that being happy is a duty in life and that ANYTHING is possible.

      None of this can work though without ACTION! Combine positive thoughts with daily action and the world is your oyster.
  • Positive thinking is where it starts.Everybody has a purpose in life.Positive thinking gets the idea going of what your purpose is.Too many people I seen start something and then quit very quickly because they don't see fast results.Although fast success is possible but not common.Any business takes time.For example if you open a store and no one knows what kind of store it is,don't expect a flood of people to rush in.But if you establish that this a (whatever) kind of store with the right presentation,over time you business will begin to grow.But with negative thinking people will move further away from you.Ever say to yourself I have a bad vibe about this person,then you move away from them.That is also the way a business works.Hope this helps you out with the way your feeling.
  • Yes it can be useless if you are lacking of doing what you are thinking.
  • oh! oh!

    I have a new response

    Action is just as useless.
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    • Positive thinking alone will never be enough to drive a person to success. I've mentored many people over the past couple of years, and I've realized that it's just not a strong enough motivator to take considerable action which will lead to a complete shift in the way you live. People who are in very "toxic" environments and surround themselves with negative people, whether family or friends, will get caught up in the drama no matter how hard they try to stay positive. It's so easy to slip up and start defending yourself against very negative people. I've seen this time and time again with others, including my former self.

      It really starts off with your environment (relationships, work, etc.), and having enough courage to just "clear the space" if you will, and move on from the things and people that bind you from excelling. Once you've found your personal space/sanctuary where you can focus/concentrate, then it becomes MUCH easier to really start thinking about the things you want to do in life. And I believe that having a vision/mission that will PULL you, and truly motivate you to take action, will drive you towards taking massive action and producing positive results. If you don't have a purpose for living life the way you want to, and "begin with the end in mind" as Stephen Covey so eloquently says, then it will be difficult to stay "on path" and stay positive. This will essentially DRIVE you to action and to stay positive.

      I also think its incredibly important to develop personal daily rituals that will help you break old patterns, and instill new ones that will create positive results. It also doesn't hurt to do some subconscious work like NLP

      There's a lot more that can be said about this, but yes, positive thinking alone will never lead a person to success. There's many things a person needs in place within their lives to really start living their ideal life. After all, positive thinking ITSELF is a result of something much deeper within the core of our being.
  • I kindda agree with you. ppl dont put their positivity practically. But negativity is not good in any way. So its not absolutely useless.
  • You have hit the nail on the head! Positive thinking is only useful if positive actions are taken after the positive thoughts
  • I think positive thinking is underrated in the sense that it is such a powerful tool but most just think that positive thinking is wishful thinking. Positivity helps alot in IM, even more so when we cannot physically see how our business is taking shape. But yeah, echoing what many have said, I second that a positive action and positive mindset is really all you need to succeed.
  • Don't your thoughts govern your actions? This would indicate positive thinking is essential to success
  • .....says the negative thinker. Positive thinking is based upon 1 thing, STAYING positive will lead you to diminishing your fears, worries, and emotional anxieties. Allowing your self, mind, and body to have a physiological reaction to that thinking and making your decisions/choices/actions, EASIER and MORE LIKELY to occur. All of that = < % of Success, and thats what we are all after.
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    • Positive thinking won't make you rich. However, I've never met a wealthy entrepreneur who was grumpy and pi**ed off all the time. Positive thinking won't bring you happiness. However, I've never met a grumpy happily married couple either.

      Some people expect too much from the whole positive thinking issue. Positive thinking won't GET you anything. Yet, positive thinkers routinely succeed faster in life than the folks who are grumpy all the time.

      A lot of people have seen the movie or read the book, "The Secret", and think they can just sit on the couch and "think" themselves rich. That's not the case at all.

      Positive thinking isn't useless at all. You'll get where you're going a lot easier and faster if you simply stay focused and stay positive.

      Let me ask you a question.

      Would you rather drive to Disney World in a 1975 Honda civic, 5 speed with no A/C and the floor boards are rusted out or a new Mercedes C class?

      Both will get you to Disney World. However, the ride there will be a lot less bumpy in the Mercedes as opposed to the 75 Honda. You'll more than likely get there faster too.

      Same thing with positive thinking.

      You can think positively towards your goal, or negatively. However, the ride towards your goal will be a lot smoother when you are positive.

      Peace,

      Shane
  • I definitely agree with this post. Positive thinking is osmething you have to master on a conscious level. Once you do that it will become unconscious and you wont have to work hard at it anymore. When this happens you will look at things differently and take more action because you wont see just the negative anymore.

    From this point you should be golden so long as you stay focused. This has worked for me.
  • You're right of course. Positive thinking is just step one. If you get into a car and expect it to start by just thinking about it you are going to go no where fast.

    Step 2, starting the car, is also required. Of course the 'action' part in life is harder than that, but thats the way it is.
  • I agree with your premise ryanman. Action is definitely a must to make anything happen with good feelings, but you also shouldn't take action unless you are thinking and feeling positively. Otherwise, what your action creates will probably be detrimental if it is born from hostile or painful emotions, or even neutral emotions. I say neutral emotions too because those are simply lazy feelings that don't take into consideration one's surroundings and can then cause harm due to negligence.
  • I think FOCUS is more important than positive thinking. You can have a positive mindset whenever you want but if you can't focus on the task there will be no great result.
  • Good point, changing your mindset is just part of it, the rest is action.
  • Positive thinking, when performing difficult tasks; or working under pressure is vital.

    Positive thinking, and action, are not mutually exclusive; You can do one without the other - but in business you'll have a heart attack if you cant do both.
  • I disagree. Positive thinking without action is useless, but positive thinking WITH action can bring success beyond your wildest dreams.
  • Positive thinking is not useless. Success is all about attitude.

    The fact that someone watches a motivational video does not translate to positive thinking. A truly positive mindset leads to motivation and motivation leads to action. How do you start in business if you do not believe in it?

    I still encourage people to visit business coaches, read positive books and watch motivational videos. Ask any successful person what the secret of success is. The answer is always "the mindset".
  • Positive thinking without action is useless, and action without positive thinking is a waste of time and efforts.
  • Iam sure when people start thinking positive, they automatically do action.

    Negative ppl will think their life is useless and so on, so they dont do action. Either way, being positive make your feeling comforts and peaceful.
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    • exactly.. nd this happens because as much as sad you are most of the doors that are open you close it for yourself.
  • As I wrote in "the success code":

    "You cannot aim a duck to death".
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  • I agree with JagSEO that focus is required.
    "I think FOCUS is more important than positive thinking. You can have a positive mindset whenever you want but if you can't focus on the task there will be no great result."

    Just as when






  • The only "positive thinking" formula that works for me is a "can-do" attitude. Coming up with a bunch of negative reasons why you CAN'T do something will definitely stop you in your tracks.

    But looking at yourself in the mirror and reciting positive mantras... no.
  • It depends. For the person who wants to suicide, positive thinking is a very useful thing.

    On the other hand to the person who wants to earn a million dollars, a positive thinking is just another necessary feature.

    And I agree that many people do not act. So, people, I have nothing more to tell you except to act!
  • Well the saying goes as to the knowledge is in the eye of beholder, the same goes as for success. the first step for success is to look for it in our mind, once we have it. we can achieve it. but being lazy won't help so you have to achieve the outside tasks also..
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  • I think a whole lot of us live in the 'action' mode & keep trying hard to get what we want, in spite of obvious signs that we need to change direction or take a break.

    While taking action is necessary, timing is equally important. You can't break an egg to see if you are going to get a chicken ...


  • Positive thinking and action may still get you nowhere. There are a lot of hard working, bubbly people that are dirt poor.

    You have to have focused ambition and be driven to not let anything get in your way to achieve what you want. Never give up and choose your friends wisely. The lowest common denominator can often bring the group down.

    You should try to associate and befriend a person who is already living your dream. Often, their enthusiasm as well as their knowledge will be contagious.

    __________________________________________________ ____________________

    Http://Powerofmindcontrol.com
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    • Yes you are right,you can have all the positive thinking you want but if you are working on the wrong things,using the wrong methods or surrounding yourself with the wrong people you could find yourself spinning your wheels and wondering why.
  • I wonder the people that you're talking about are really positive or thinking truly positively. They may say but may really do something else. Change certainly starts from thinking but your thinking doesn't need to always be positive it just has to be balanced. When you balance things, that's when you take action. I guest it depends on the person to.

    I certainly know some people who would fall into the type of people you're describing here.
  • Positive thinking is never useless by itself. But it is true that we need to act on our positive ideas. So we need ambition to succeed and the desire to work to achieve our positive ideas.
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    • Remaining positive is the key to success in every walk of life.
  • Focus + direction + aggression + hard work = results & attainment

    People seriously over do the "power" of positive thinking. You should already be in a more or less positive frame of mind, and that's pretty simple...focus on your goal...obsess about your goal...your goal becomes your life.
  • In most cases, positive thinking needs to be followed by positive actions. Not just that, but also persistent and consistant action to improve your life.
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  • Even if you do nothing at all, positive thinking will keep you happy and healthy. Negative thinking always leads to depression and stress, regardless if you succeed or fail in anything.
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  • Positive thinking is better than negative thinking, so if that's all a person does, that's fine. However, as you have stated, you need to take 'massive' action (to quote a well known guru) to acheive your goals/dreams.

    With regards to listening to tapes/cds etc., the more you listen the more the message will get ingrained in your subconscious mind.

    So yes, taking action is the best way forward, but listening to motivational speakers/coaches, beats getting brain dead watching some dumb ass reality show on TV.
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    • Reality TV is like an insidious parasite that eats away at our time and motivation. The typical messages found within these shows, whether intentional or unintentional, are negative and promote unhealthy habits.

      In comparison to that, listening to just about any motivational or self-help CD/audio is a 180 degree change for the better! Many TV shows, including the news, tend to induce negativity and pessimism in people, and we should all be more careful in monitoring what we watch on television.

      Paul
  • thinking positive obviously in internet marketing should be followed by ACTION. or you;; get nothing
  • I 100% agree if the focus of the positive think is focused on issues that is not working, e.g. I can focus of not having any wheat in my garden all I want. It will still come! However when positive thinking makes me look beyond the wheat at how beautiful my garden can be with a bit of effort, then positive thinking works and is very powerful.

    You must feel what you try to install in yourself. You can try to make yourself the best sales person in the world, but if you actually have no interest in being that person NO positive thinking will ever help you.

    Positive thinking aligned with desire is absolutely great and powerful. And then get to work

    Michael
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  • I first read Vincent Peale in my teens. Now almost 2 decades later, I can trace my difference in approach to life to his books.

    Positive thinking isn't the problem, people are.

    I don't understand how anyone can read the stories and believe it says think happy thots and do nothing. All the testimonials are quite clear: . I think that really is the message.

    I wouldn't knock it until I've been able to produce anywhere near 1/4 of the results and testimonials its has and continues to do.
  • Positive thinking - 50% good for you
    Positive Doing - 100%
  • Positive Thinking + Action = Results
  • Great Discussion!

    From my understanding of "mind science" and "chi gung" and how it applies to our use of both brain hemispheres, negative thinking tends to be left brain generated.

    When someone utilizing more of the left brain they are prone to be planners instead of action takers and this is why taking action may require a little more effort.

    I like using Silva Life System for this reason. It helps balance both brain hemispheres and also activate the creative and intuitive right side.

    Wil
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    • "What the mind can believe it can achieve" it is important to feed the mind with positive thoughts so that you are able to create your reality. Just keep thinking of the things you WANT so that they become a reality.
  • Positive thinking is an absolute must. However, if there is no action taken, you'll start to feel like a loser and when you feel like a loser you think negatively. So take action right now!
  • Positive unshakable belief will get you everything.Positive wishing get you nowhere.
  • Positiive thinking without action is quite useless.
    I still prefer rational thinking with optimistic attitude.
  • I agree. Few realize that positive thinking can be a tremendous handicap. For example, if you are fat, lonely, and broke yet walk around with a smile on your face and focus on what you have instead of what you do not have, you will most likely never be successful. Why? Because you have to be dissatisfied with your life in order to make any positive changes. It is great to be grateful for what you have, but not at the expense of self- improvement and goal achievement.

    Positive thinking is an excuse for many people to be losers. Life is about balance. You need positive and negative energy to get things done.

    If you are positive all the time then you are an idiot.

    If you are negative all of the time then you are an idiot as well.

    The key is to know when to use positive or negative energy. Anger can be a very powerful force to push you into positive action. Laughter can be a very negative force to prevent you from taking action.

    Just as violence is sometimes necessary to prevent more violence, negative energy is necessary to create more negativity.

    Find the balance.
  • Simple but deadly accurate statement..
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  • Positive thinking is where our actions will be based upon. Thoughts and ideas cannot make our dreams come true if without actions. I agree with the statement mentioned above that nothing can be a substitute to actions. Dreams and objectives cannot be attained by ideas or people just sitting in their couch waiting for that idea to materialize.
    One can deem that positive thinking is useless if people are not doing something to put that thought or idea to action. They will simply justify that their lives didn't improve even if they had this positive thoughts. Simple explanation to that is, he/she doesn't have the determination and perseverance in applying their thought to action. It's not an overnight effect that having positive thoughts will automatically gives you a positive and progressive life. It takes time for a caterpillar to develop its wings, a child to be an engineer or a doctor. or a car parts to be assembled into its complete form.
    Do not try to think that positive thoughts are useless, because if that would be the case, how could we possibly explain the thoughts or minds of people who has negative thinking?
    Well, Who knows what's it gonna be like..
  • Positive thinking without actions is useless.You can only compare it with a good car without gas or wheels.It does not matter how good it looks but i tell you the truth that it is not going to take you anywhere even if you were to cry.You can think on all the wonderful thoughts of the life you want to have or achieve but i promise you that without efforts and the will power for execution you are going nowhere.
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    • Positive thinking is bad.

      It's subjective, biased, to make good decisions one needs an unbiased, objective view.

      If a person has an unrealistically positive outlook, when the inevitable failure occurs they will most likely crash.

      Having said that I'm a self confessed negative thinker. The success I had in my professional life for 30 years was almost entirely down to my negative thinking, I found it partiicularly usefull in Disaster Recovery Planning.
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  • Positive thinking will not fail to produce results that are positive. If it does not produce results, then its not positive thinking. Likes could only beget likes. "Minus"(-) will not give you plus(+), neither will the reverse be the case. A lion will give birth to a lion and not a snake. Not even accidentally. In summary, the starting point to every great success is positive thinking.
  • You can't say its "absolutely" useless to think positive. Did thinking negatively convince you to stay in the internet marketing game even though you thought you can't do it?
  • Its all about action action action!!!!
  • Positive thinking - negative thinking - creative thinking. Your choice.

    The Push Button solution is generally preferred over the nitty gritty nuts and bolt solution of doing as the successful do, not as they teach.

    It's a lot easier to run round in circles thinking "I'll get started tomorrow" than it is to plan definite steps today. Success is found in blazing a new path: but who wants the trouble?
  • I believe so. Maybe because most of these 97% are scared to fail. A lot of us feel frightened especially if we're not sure where we're heading. Personally, I often belong to that 97% and rarely on the 3%.
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  • you are absolutely right the only thing it does is makes you feel better, but it doesn't change the facts, I read self development book when i was depressed ones the only thing it does is it helps you move on and feel good maybe, that it self is the problem, when people are upset about something they are willing to do anything to change,but when you make them feel better they forget the Dark feelings and they become like "It will be Ok!","I'm smart and I will figured it out","Things will change"..ect.

    I never heard of someone read a positive thinking book and his life changed, the only one who say his life changed are the writers or speaker of this kind of things.
  • Positive thinking is neither good or bad in isolation. What makes it work, or not work, is how it is used on an individual basis.

    Those that say it works have found a beneficial way to use it, unless they're just parroting others.

    Those that say it doesn't work haven't found a beneficial way to use it, but that's only their experience, it doesn't apply to anyone else.

    Your experience with it, good or bad, doesn't create someone else's reality.
  • Totally disagree with you about this. When facing a problem / doing problem solving, it's better to go in with a clear and positive mind that you can fix the problem, rather than running away or facing it with a bad attitude.
  • Positive thinking is useless if you don't accompany it with an action. Don't just think....put an action with it.
  • I dont belive in positive thinking , we should have normal thinking , so that we dont feel when negative things happen
  • I do believe that positive thinking plays a big role to help us keep doing. When we were able to maintain a positive mind, we can surpass every situation, good or bad. But it is not enough, we need to work hard and take action as well in addition to thinking positive to ensure success.
  • Motivation doesn't always result in action, but action won't happen without motivation.
  • Taking action is everything. I have to remind myself of this all the time.
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  • positive thinking is not useless, however it needs to be accompanied by positive actions and also the right actions!
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    • I have some friends who are addicted to the whole positive thinking thing. It almost makes me vomit when they start lecturing about it... but they are not successful. And WHY? because they are so addicted to the idea that they are totally captured by it and just can't do anything about it:-( They will read every book and Ebook about it, go to seminars and listen to lectures but won't take action (with all this information, when do thye have time?)
      I do believe that positive thinking can help, but you should be aware that it isn't some kind of a magic. There are too many people today who'll take your money and promise you the world, you should never be blinded by your positive thoughts when you are trying to find a good advice.
  • Many times I find myself languishing in the 97% . A few times when I take action I transform into the 3 %.
  • You're right positive thoughts are not enough.. You need to take action!
  • I totally agree with you on that. Also, people should know that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Postive thinking is important but without action the effort is not worthwhile.
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    • There are two main perceptual filters that drive us towards action: "towards" and "away"...

      So some people may act towards a goal, bonus, reward and others will take massive action only to avoid the consequences of doing other wise. The latter will act to avoid getting fired, being poor etc etc

      I certainly helps to have an positive expectation when you are taking action, otherwise you may undermine and sabotage your efforts.

      Sometimes the problem is that we spend too much time thinking that we are thinking...


      Kaan
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    I agree, but still at a minimum it's better than negative thinking which always takes you somewhere -- down. Sometimes positive thinking may feel like just staying afloat. And that, in itself, is good.

    And yes, it should be a basis upon which to take action.
  • Harsh, but true.

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    EarlyToRise
  • positive thinking is useless until we do some positive actions.
  • "Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion." Jim Rohn
    If positive thinking is a starting point towards measurable results, then koodos to those who are taking those steps.
  • Yeah start to love money and she/he will come.
  • Lol...Definitely there with ya ryanman. It is not until a year later that I actually started doing something myself that positive thinking actually really did anything! Positive thinking is a powerful fuel...But an action has to be taken especially when your inspiration is in a present peak state.
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    • They certainly go hand in hand.

      Thinking = Direction
      Action = Motion

      You can turn the steering wheel all you want, but until you put the pedal to the metal, your not going anywhere. And if you don't take the steering wheel, you will end up wrecking your vehicle.
  • This is true, Positive thinking is not enough for us to succeed it must come along with action to be able to achieve our goal. Because success will not fall down on our lap from up above by thinking positive. So lets keep the ball rolling and keep working to achieve or dreams, goals, etc..
  • Action and motivation is the best way to success.
  • Positive thinking is useless if you will not put it in action. No matter how positive or great idea you have if you will not put them into action will not bring you anywhere. God gave us the power to think because He knows that we can do something about it that we will come up with something good for ourselves and for the others.
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  • i would treat thinking as the subconsicious mind patterns & belifefs...but as someone wrote above.. positive thinking is not a substitute of action.. it´s a great journey partner to the success..people just take a look at the secrets of millionaire mind by Harv Eker.. just go to amazon.com and type this title in the book section search bar.. i have this book and reallt was a life-changer!! cheers
  • The thinkers VS the Do-ers
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    • well not really, as thinking is required for (sensible) action ...

      I guess you mean more like "dreamers" vs "do-ers"
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  • I agree, take action is important to get make a dream come true
  • It does make your days better. Try it for a week.
  • I disagree with some of your opinions on positive thinking!

    I am a very positive guy any ways but today I made a conscious effort to be even more positive , especially to other people! I made sure that I said "Have a great day" to people that I spoke too!

    Here is the response I got:
    While I was being served at a clothes shop today, I was talking to the girl on the till and as she finished serving me and said goodbye, I complimented her on her smile and said to her "Have a great day". As I proceeded to walk away she said that she would like to employ me as a member of staff since I have a sense of great positivity about me! I can honestly say that is the first time I have ever been offered a job without applying!

    Although her offering me a job didn't really benefit me, the point I am making is that when we are positive, we affect the people around us and create new opportunities for ourselves. For example if I was in need of a job, just by smiling, a quick compliment and wishing some one a great day gave me the opportunity to get a job!

    The power of positivity is incredible, the results are incredible, the difficulty is being able to stay positive throughout life! You can't expect to see results in a matter of minutes after being positive! It takes some time to see the benefits! I can happily say though, the benefits of having a positive mindset are well worth the struggle to remain positive at the start!

    Good luck & have a great day!

    Joe Crosbie
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    Positive thinking is absolutely useless if it takes you no where. I see this all over the place all the time. So many people watch motivational movies...Listen to motivational tapes feel great about it but they never do anything to go beyond that feeling point. They never take action and do the thing they know they should be doing. This is the primary reason why 97% of people out there never get what they want out of life.