Thinking Positive?

Think again

Suppose you want to know the two phrases that irritate me the most.

One would be, “Karma is a b*tch.” It is not. It’s the result of your actions.

The second one, “Think positive.” Insert orange emoji with squinting eyes here.

Let me set this straight.

Positive thinking does not have the power to change the course of events. It is not a magic wand. Or an Aladdin lamp that can grant you three wishes to make it all better.

I say this with conviction based on my personal experience and the fact that over many years, I have sat in the company of teachers, sadhus, and gurus, mainly from India, to learn the secrets of navigating life with ease.

And I have never seen them projecting thoughts of positivity into the air, wishing for some beneficial outcome.

This is not a matter of being negative. It's about being realistic.

Things don’t always go the way we plan them. People disappoint us. The inherent unpredictability of life can hit us like a truckload of wood (ouch) in the most unexpected ways.

Don’t get me wrong! Maintaining a positive outlook undoubtedly improves our mental state and decision-making abilities. It teaches us adaptability to what we can’t control. Yet, it can’t magically alter the future.

Are you with me on this one?

Let me ask you, what’s wrong with acknowledging and processing our feelings, even when they are less optimistic?

A realistic assessment of the situation, acknowledging both positive and negative aspects, and making informed decisions based on this assessment allows us to navigate life’s challenges more resiliently.

Exhale.

Do you want to know another thing I learned while sipping chai with the Indian mystics?

Embracing positivity is essential to the spiritual path, helping us cultivate mindfulness, gratitude, and trust in the Universe’s wisdom. Accepting the unexpected with an open heart instead of fighting it can lead us to profound spiritual insights. It equips us with the inner strength to face adversity with grace, mindfulness, and a large dose of inner peace.

Relax your jaw.

And yet, no positive thinking can outsmart Murphy and his pesky law.

Thanks so much for reading to the end.

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