Comments on: Positivity and the Elephant http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:32:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 Scott Young Mon, 02 Oct 2006 11:14:50 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/#comment-1481 Lyndon, I completely agree. You need to be positive, but you cannot sacrifice being proactive by being positive. Lyndon,

I completely agree. You need to be positive, but you cannot sacrifice being proactive by being positive.

]]> By: Lyndon Antcliff http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/comment-page-1/#comment-1479 Lyndon Antcliff Mon, 02 Oct 2006 07:29:33 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/#comment-1479 Scott The inefficiences in our perception cause creativity and invention. If we were to see things as they acually are - don't ask as I don't know how things actually are ;) - we would just see a bunch of atoms glued together. I think it's vital that we see everything in a positive way, I am not sure there is a "nuetral", it either is positive or it's negative. My point on being content is that that is a desirous state, however content people do not get things done, they do not change things. They do not go out and explore or write symphonies. Be positive, but don't be content. That's my thing. Scott
The inefficiences in our perception cause creativity and invention. If we were to see things as they acually are – don’t ask as I don’t know how things actually are ;) – we would just see a bunch of atoms glued together.

I think it’s vital that we see everything in a positive way, I am not sure there is a “nuetral”, it either is positive or it’s negative.

My point on being content is that that is a desirous state, however content people do not get things done, they do not change things. They do not go out and explore or write symphonies.

Be positive, but don’t be content.

That’s my thing.

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/comment-page-1/#comment-1226 Scott Young Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:29:13 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/#comment-1226 Raven, Once again you illustrate how positive thinking arguments are usually a matter of semantics not fact. As a side note, putting things in ALL CAPS tends to indicate yelling in online text... Raven,

Once again you illustrate how positive thinking arguments are usually a matter of semantics not fact. As a side note, putting things in ALL CAPS tends to indicate yelling in online text…

]]> By: RAVEN SHAVER http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/comment-page-1/#comment-1210 RAVEN SHAVER Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:50:11 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/#comment-1210 PEOPLE WHO DON'T ADOPT THE POSITIVE THINKING OUT LOOK HAVE POSITIVE THINKING CONFUSED WITH WISHFUL THINKING. IT IS TRUE THAT YOU CANT THINK OR "WISH A MOUNTAIN TO MOVE". BUT POSITIVE THINKING IS NOT ABOUT THIS KIND OF DELUSION. POSITIVE THINKING IS ABOUT KNOWING THAT THAT MOUNTAIN MAY NOT BE EASY TO MOVE AND PROBABLY NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO WASTE YOUR ENERGY ON, BUT IF YOU WERE TO GATHER MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ALL MOVED A FEW TRUCK LOADS OF DIRT THEN EVENTUALLY IT COULD BE DONE. I MAY NOT BE THE BEST PERSON IN THE WORLD TO EXPLAIN THIS CONCEPT BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND I SUGGEST YOU READ THE BOOK "THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG" AND THEN JUDGE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT POSITIVE THINKING. PEOPLE WHO DON’T ADOPT THE POSITIVE THINKING OUT LOOK HAVE POSITIVE THINKING CONFUSED WITH WISHFUL THINKING. IT IS TRUE THAT YOU CANT THINK OR “WISH A MOUNTAIN TO MOVE”. BUT POSITIVE THINKING IS NOT ABOUT THIS KIND OF DELUSION. POSITIVE THINKING IS ABOUT KNOWING THAT THAT MOUNTAIN MAY NOT BE EASY TO MOVE AND PROBABLY NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO WASTE YOUR ENERGY ON, BUT IF YOU WERE TO GATHER MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ALL MOVED A FEW TRUCK LOADS OF DIRT THEN EVENTUALLY IT COULD BE DONE.
I MAY NOT BE THE BEST PERSON IN THE WORLD TO EXPLAIN THIS CONCEPT BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND I SUGGEST YOU READ THE BOOK “THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG” AND THEN JUDGE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT POSITIVE THINKING.

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/comment-page-1/#comment-1073 Scott Young Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:41:41 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/#comment-1073 @Lyndon - I think the basics of positive thinking is simply that you need to adopt a mindset that allows you both the best understanding of reality along with the most effectiveness in it. A positive mindset might bias your understanding somewhat, but it may also increase your effectiveness. The other point to remember is that just because you adopt a neutral bias towards looking at your reality doesn't mean it is any more accurate than a positive or negative bias. We are so inefficient at perceiving our universe that our interpretations are likely to be hugely flawed despite an attempted neutral spin on the situation. @Lyndon -

I think the basics of positive thinking is simply that you need to adopt a mindset that allows you both the best understanding of reality along with the most effectiveness in it. A positive mindset might bias your understanding somewhat, but it may also increase your effectiveness.

The other point to remember is that just because you adopt a neutral bias towards looking at your reality doesn’t mean it is any more accurate than a positive or negative bias. We are so inefficient at perceiving our universe that our interpretations are likely to be hugely flawed despite an attempted neutral spin on the situation.

]]> By: Lyndon Antcliff http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/comment-page-1/#comment-1069 Lyndon Antcliff Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:59:03 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/#comment-1069 There is no question that positive thinking is a delusion, but it's the best delusion we have. Optimism is a state of mind that has an effect on our behaviour. If we wished to control our behaviour then having a positive out look is only going to help. But, it's when you get people saying "oh you're a glassh half full kinda guy." That's right, I am not content until the glass is full and will not sit back like some glazed hippy, content at the glass being half full. Sometimes it's good not to be content, not to be way, but it's always good to be thinking positive. There is no question that positive thinking is a delusion, but it’s the best delusion we have. Optimism is a state of mind that has an effect on our behaviour.

If we wished to control our behaviour then having a positive out look is only going to help.

But, it’s when you get people saying “oh you’re a glassh half full kinda guy.” That’s right, I am not content until the glass is full and will not sit back like some glazed hippy, content at the glass being half full.

Sometimes it’s good not to be content, not to be way, but it’s always good to be thinking positive.

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Scott Young Tue, 07 Mar 2006 01:55:47 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/#comment-17 I don't think many people advocate the "negative thinking" approach. Negativity can be incredibly caustic and doesn't provide nearly the same benefits that postive thinking can. But as you said, its a balance. Too much negativity and you become depressed, demotivated and unable to act. Too much positivity and you become deluded and are blinded to the problems. The key is finding the balance that allows you to grow and succeed the most. ;) Thanks for the comments. I don’t think many people advocate the “negative thinking” approach. Negativity can be incredibly caustic and doesn’t provide nearly the same benefits that postive thinking can. But as you said, its a balance.

Too much negativity and you become depressed, demotivated and unable to act.

Too much positivity and you become deluded and are blinded to the problems.

The key is finding the balance that allows you to grow and succeed the most. ;)

Thanks for the comments.

]]> By: Gleb Reys http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Gleb Reys Mon, 06 Mar 2006 21:01:46 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2006/03/06/positivity-and-the-elephant/#comment-16 It's a very interesting example with the elephant, Scott ;) I agree that it's all about having a balance. And it's best when this balance is natural. That's why some of us believe in positive thinking and others just love the negative thinking approach. I think it's simply because everyone's natural balance is different. It’s a very interesting example with the elephant, Scott ;)

I agree that it’s all about having a balance. And it’s best when this balance is natural. That’s why some of us believe in positive thinking and others just love the negative thinking approach. I think it’s simply because everyone’s natural balance is different.

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