Unit One- Personal Choices

• That positive thinking can have a beneficial influence on your mind and body

Did you know that having an optimistic attitude actually helps you recover faster from surgery? Studies have shown that people with negative or pessimistic attitudes did not recover as quickly or as well.

Having a positive attitude will help you survive difficult situations and prosper in everyday ones. Although becoming more positive is not an overnight change, it can happen for you, a little bit each day.

by Remez Sasson

- sourced from successconsciousness.com

When we feel down and worried, we often hear people telling us: "Think positive!" Many do not take these words seriously, as they do not know what the power of positive thinking really is, or do not consider it as useful and effective. How many people do you know that ever stop to think what the power of positive thinking means?

Many do not believe that it works, considering it as just nonsense, and scoff at people who do.
Among the people who are conversant with this subject, not many know how to use it effectively in
order to get results. Yet, it seems that more people are becoming attracted to this subject, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it. This is a subject that is gaining popularity.

Thinking positively means admitting into the mind only thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is the expectation of 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.

Allan applied for a new job, but as his self esteem was low, and he considered himself as a failure
and unworthy of success, he was sure that he was not going to get the job. He had a negative attitude towards himself, and believed that the other applicants were better and more qualified than him. 

Allan manifested this attitude because he was not admitted to most of the jobs he applied to, and consequently had negative past experience.  His mind was filled with negative thoughts and fears concerning the job for the whole week before the job interview. He was sure he would be rejected. On the day of the interview he got up late, and to his horror he discovered that the shirt he had planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out with a wrinkled shirt.

During the interview he was tense, displayed a negative attitude, worried about his shirt, and felt hungry because he did not have enough time to eat breakfast. All this distracted his mind and made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and
consequently he materialized his fear and did not get the job.

Jim applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. He was sure that he was going to get the job. During the week preceding the interview he often visualized himself making a good impression and getting the job.
In the evening before the interview he prepared the clothes he was going to wear, and went to sleep a little earlier. On day of the interview he woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time.

He got the job because he made a good impression. Of course he had also the proper qualifications for the job, but so had Allan.

What do we learn from these two stories? Is there any magic employed here? No, it is all natural.
When the attitude is positive we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive images, and see in our
mind's eye what we really want to happen. This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy and happiness. The whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even the health is affected in a beneficial way. We walk tall and the voice is more powerful. Our body language shows
the way you feel inside.

All of us affect, whether positively or negatively, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference, or through body language.  People sense our aura and are affected by our thoughts. 

Is it any wonder that we want to be
around positive persons and shun negative ones? People are more disposed to help us if we are
positive. They dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity.

Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When
the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity. Negative thinking is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment.

Positive and negative thinking are both contagious, and their results are very obvious. If you choose the former you gain a great and beneficial power. In order to turn the mind towards the
positive, knowledge and training are necessary. People do not change their attitude and thoughts overnight.

Read about this subject. Meditate about its benefits, and persuade your mind to try it. The power of
thoughts is a mighty power that is always shaping our lives. This shaping is usually done subconsciously, but it is possible to make the process a conscious one. Even if the idea seems
strange, give it a try, as you have nothing to lose, but only to gain. Forget what others might say or
think about you if you change the way you think.

Always visualize only favorable and beneficial situations. Use positive words in your inner dialogues or when talking with others. Smile a little more, as this helps to think positively. If you feel inner resistance when replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, do not give up, but keep looking only at the beneficial, good and happy thoughts in your mind. Disregard any feelings of laziness or a desire to quit. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks.  Once a negative thought enters your mind, you have to be aware of it and endeavor to replace it with a constructive one. The negative thought will try again to enter your mind, and then you have to replace it again with a positive one. It is as if there are two pictures in front of you, and you choose to look at one and disregard the other. Persistence will eventually teach your mind to think
positively and ignore negative thoughts.

It does not matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly. It may take some time for the changes to take place, but eventually they do.