The Power Of Positive Thinking "Book Review"

The Power of Positive Thinking By Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

‘A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it,’ said Marcus Aurelius. A man paints his life in the colors of his thought patterns and mental attitudewhich can be either positive or negative. Pessimism leads to life sunk indarkness and gloom. On the contrary, positive thinking holds the key tosuccess, prosperity and a contented life with no depressing thoughts todistract us. This is how the author, Dr.Norman Vincent Peale, portrays a positive thinker in his widely famous book “The Power of Positive Thinking.”

Dr. Peale isThroughout the book, Peale has emphasized on the need of religiousfaith as fundamental tool in drawing the power of optimism. Peale urges hisreaders to turn to God and draw upon that High Power for the innumerabledifficult situations we encounter in our daily lives. Instead of beingtheoretical, Peale has given practical applications of faith illustratingexperiences of the most popular and ordinary people whoA person can never be successful unless he believes in himself. Thewriter regards religious faith as a valuable asset to human being. Bydeveloping an absolute faith in God one can achieve a realistic and dynamicin him. Today, a large number of people are victimized of an inferioritycomplex or self doubt, thereby, lacking self confidence. However, in his book, Peale draws our attention toward a powerful concept that eradicatesthis inferiority complex, that is, a belief on the affirmation, “God is with youand will always help you”.Faith is the chief quality needed to overcome the obstacles of life. Our power to prevail over an obstacle is determined by our mental attitude. Itoften destroys us mentally before we decide to take an action-the reason being our negative attitude. By developing a negative attitude we createfeelings of self doubt, apprehension and defeat thoughts in ourselves, as aconsequence, we resist handling any difficult situation. On the other hand,adopting a triumphant thought pattern enables us battle past all difficulties.Peale, in this regard, suggests an effective technique to deal with an obstacle,that is, ‘to measure your assets rather than the factors against you’. Thismind set will seemingly give you a formidable strength regardless of thetroubles you are besetted with. Tensions and worries block the flow of thinking power in man. It is, therefore, essentially important to eliminate them for this minor negatives can collectively recondition our mind in anegative way. Peale suggests a, more or lessccomplicated procedure of creative imagination to drain them out. Imagination can be constructive aswell as destructive for the author himself states:Imagination is a source of fear, but imagination may be the cureof fear. “Imagineering” is the use of mental images to build factual results.According to Peale, religious faith is the scientific procedure for successful living. One finds it rather fascinating how he puts an emphasis onPRAYER POWER. He quotes a psychologist saying,“Prayer is the greatest power available to the individual in solving his personal problems. Its power astonishes you.”Prayers give a constant flow of energy and renew the personality. Becausemost of our energy is dissipated in fear, guilt and resentment, prayers play amajor role in power-releasing process.Moving on, the author, Peale, describes the importance of theacquisition of a peaceful mind. Feed your mind with creative and healthythoughts, he says. Peale even prescribes a state silence to achieve a peacefulmind. Being silent refers to mental quietness, that is to say, breaking your links with all forms of practices and communication. Seems quiteimaginable, how, in the essence of silence one can experience harmony.Thomas Carlyle defines this art of silence as,“Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves.”Our thoughts are said to possess a dynamic power, capable of creating thecircumstances according to our thought patterns. Norman Peale defines it bya simple rule: “If you think in negative terms, you will get negative results.If you think in positive terms, you will achieve positive results.” No man candrive success from something that is morally, spiritually and ethicallywrong. . Peale recommends a highly significant three-point formula, as thesecret of success, that is, (1) VISUALIZE - picture in your mind success and prosperity (2) PRAYERIZE - pray to God & (3) ACTUALIZE - work of it.The author regards spiritual science as much important in healing asthe medical science. It is true that a number of our sicknesses arecharacterized by our mental attitude and emotional conflicts such as grief,disappointment, ill-will, guilt and resentment. Healing, therefore, requiresfaith in the combined therapy of medical and spiritual sciences.Where Norman Peale gave countless techniques to enable usapply optimism in our daily lives, some of them, apparently, look unusuallydifficult to practice. He suggests avoiding the negative expressions in speechand conversation, as little negatives as, “by talking up good results youinvoke the law of positive effects and good results occur.” In practice, for instance, a person late for his place of work would find it extremely hard,will even; need patience to produce a positive comment about it.Man himself is the manufacturer of his happiness, which he canacquire by happy thinking. And for happy thinking we must know the kindof thoughts (either positive or negative) to be adopted.

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