My Reaction to Barbara Ehrenreich, Bright Sided

[0nePumpChump]

~1:45 to 2:10 or so is the only time you make sense, and where you would find yourself in agreement with Ms. Ehrenreich.

Also, I'm not sure you understand the concept of "magical thinking." Read Carl Sagan's "The Demon Haunted World" for the best possible explanation, or "Cargo Cult Science" by Richard Feynman, for a less explicit one.

Also, setting goals is NOT what she means, or what YOU mean by "positive thinking."

Oh, and Henry Ford didn't create the first V8. Not even close.

[iamafreeman666]

You should go to bed if you're just going to read an article about a book and then NOT READ THE BOOK ITSELF, then comment about it. I have read the book. She is NOT against "positive thinking" itself, she is for realistic thinking. She spends much time going into the background of Joel Osteen and other motivational speakers, who are for selling you tapes and programs under the umbrella of positive thinking. The Secret is also a sham. (Read Scientific American). Barbara is 100% correct.

[twizzler3b]

@iamafreeman666

I saw Barbara live and she has was very smart, but also bitter and sarcastic. The last thing I'd want to do is spend hours reading her book to soak up more of that feeling.

I totally agree with being realistic. I also agree that The Secret and many other self help books are sugar coated. They speak of optimism and visualization, which are both, very powerful, but many gloss over the need for ACTION, PERSISTENCE etc. But there are many good books and resources (cont'd)

[twizzler3b]

@iamafreeman666 part 2: and it's a shame to lump them all together and suggest that "positive thinking" on the whole is useless. It's like saying acupuncture is bs, therefore medicine is useless, flawed logic. I think it's important to realize that just as there are authors and movie producers out just to sell copies and get rich in any genre, there are great ones as well. Check out Jim Rohn, etc,, find what works for you. Thanks for the comments

[iamafreeman666]

@twizzler3b You really need to read the book before commenting on it. She does NOT condemn "positive thinking" as a concept, she condemns people who USE "positive thinking" to dupe people.

[ownbru]

Yes indeed its a "miracle"...even my blood group says it all the time......"B+ve"

[PositiveAtmosphere]

Thanks you guys, this is an interesting and important discussion. I'll leave you with an Einstein quote "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

-Dan O'

[PositiveAtmosphere]

@madjunir Thanks for the comment. I agree that balance is important. It's important to be critical and use your own reason and judgement.

In my experience being positive and optimistic gets one much further than anything else. Everyone trips and falls, encounters difficulty, but it's the optimism and belief in yourself that allows you to pick yourself up, learn, and keep going.

cont'd in next comment....

[JasonERF]

Unfortunately your example of Kennedy sums up her point, not yours.

The alternative to positive thinking *isn't* negative thinking. It's thinking realistically.

Offering either of the extremes: "always positive" "always negative" is dangerous.

[PositiveAtmosphere]

@JasonERF Hey Jason, thanks for the input. I agree that realistic is good. What I'm not about is dwelling on the negative. You know the Gandhi quote "Be the change you want to see." ? He was realistic, knowing that there would be much work and pain to overcome a huge challenge, but stayed focused on the goal, not the obstacles and difficulties. I'm into "solution based thinking". Have a good week, thanks for the comment.

[phlewis86]

This is a very good video and people should pay close attention to the message. I really like what you have to say. Positive thinking can be a great thing when done right. I think of positive thinking as a framework from which we can operate. Progress is the result of a combination of things and being positive is one of them.

[PositiveAtmosphere]

Thanks, glad you liked it. I agree, that it's a space/framework from which we operate.

[DIBBY40]

I agree to the extent that positive thinking is based on realism. Given the current state of technology and knowledge available at the time, it was indeed a positive thing to go for putting a man on the moon. But all the positive thinking in the world wouldn't have achieved that in the 15th century. There is alot of unrealistic thinking concerning things like becoming multi millionaires, or sports stars. While people can improve there is a certain natural talent or aptitude needed and the genes.

[PositiveAtmosphere]

Good thoughts Dibby, thanks. Going to the moon definitely requires some talented folks, kindergarten students wouldn't make the best nasa engineers :)

I prefer the term "solution based thinking", which I see as a combination of logic and optimism, which are a very powerful combo! Have a great weekend :)

Dan O'

[PositiveAtmosphere]

Ok, if you guys are open to it, I challenge you to check out "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill, and "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield, and let me know what you think.

Belief precedes action, show me a Super Bowl champ or a President who didn't visualize and believe in their vision.

Once the belief and thought is there, THEN, you can take effective action, like Kennedy and NASA.

Were the Wright Bros delusional? Edison, Ford?

That's my 2 cents, have a good one you guys,

Dan O'

[madjunir]

@PositiveAtmosphere

i just saw her video, i believe is all about balance

negative isn't always bad and positive isn't always good. is not black and white

both negativity and positivity can be used as form of social/masses control if taken to the extremes

if we think realistically we can balance the 2

her words have reinforced my positivity over negativity and my realism

Great wake up call, but i also think she's not as balanced as she praises. She also needs to smile a bit more

[reallybigname]

You don't even want to "be against anything". THAT is delusional.

She didn't say not to be a positive person, not to laugh, not to smile, not to have positive affirmations. You just aren't listening with an open mind.

[betterbadnews]

This guy is able to visualize the content of the book he is criticizing without having to read it.

Kennedy set the goal to land a man on the moon but it was the motivational speakers he brought in to teach NASA engineers how to send positive thought vibrations into the universe that got the job done.

[colibri1]

I think you could say "I was about to go to bed" in a more positive way. Maybe say "I was about to go re-energize my body for continued growth" instead; that would sound more positive and less like you're a victim and a negative-thinker. When we pay attention to our words, we learn how negative thoughts and words can literally stunt our growth. I went through a negative-thinking phase that caused my actual physical height to diminish by 3 inches.