The Power Of Positive Thinking

The Power of Positive Thinking

“The power of positive thinking: A Practical Guide to handling the pressures of everyday Living is a guide for self-help that was written by American theologian Norman Vincent Peale. It includes personal “case histories” of positive thinking that follows the Bible’s guidelines as well as practical tips that were created to help readers maintain a positive positive outlook.

The techniques typically involved affirmations and visualizations. Peale said that these techniques can give the readers more satisfaction and more positive outlook on life. The book was not well-reviewed by doctors and researchers. But it did well with the general population and has been highly praised.

Author

Norman Vincent Peale, born in 1898 in the southwest part of Ohio was graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in the late 19th century. He later earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in sacred theology in the Boston The University’s School of Theology. Peale was then accepted at Syracuse University where he received the Doctor of Divinity degree.

After serving for 10 years in the role of a Methodist church pastor, at moment of his arrival in New York, Peale became the pastor of New York City’s Marble Collegiate Church and remained there for 52 years until at least his passing in. As a pastor Peale wrote more than 40 booksand was a sought-after motivational speaker. He also created weekly television and radio shows, established his own organization called his own organization, the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry and co-founded the journal of spirituality Guideposts together with wife Ruth Stafford Peale.

Publication

The Power of Positive Thinking was published in October 1952 , and is still his most-read book. The book was featured on the New York Times best-sellers list for the duration of 186 weeks. 48 of them were in the top. 1 non-fiction spot.

The book sold more than 5 million copies across the world, which is approximately 2.5 millions between the year 1952 to and was eventually translated into more than 40 other languages. Other books that were published by Peale in the year 1952 were The Art of Real Happiness which came out in 1950. There was also the inspirational Messages for Daily Living, released in 1955.

The Power of Positive Thinking appeared during a time of Christian congregations were quickly increasing, while the national views of each individual, religious beliefs and the individual were experiencing changes and an increasing concern over The Cold War was a growing anxiety that was affecting the minds of many Americans.

The above and other elements along with Peale’s increasing popularity as an inspirational public figure and the book’s concise prose led to the change the book The Power of Positive Thinking into a self-help guide which is highly sought-after today.

Synopsis

Peale begins by providing 10 rules to follow in “overcoming inadequacy attitudes and learning to practice faith”. The guidelines are as follows:

• Imagine yourself winning.
• Make positive thought patterns to block the negativity.
• Eliminate the obstacles.
• Don’t duplicate other people’s work.
• The repetition “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Ten times per day.
• Seek counsellor.
• Repetition “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” 10 times a day.
• Increase self-esteem and self-confidence.
• Verify your place in the hands of God.
• Believe that you’re granted strength from God.

The following chapter examines the importance of establishing peace in the mind. This can be achieved through invigorating reading, clearing the mind, or simply by thinking about. Peale discusses the steps to ensure that you have a constant flow of energy in the form of “God is the source of all energy”.

The mind decides how your body reacts the external environment. Thus let go of your negative and emotional energy will offer the energy of God. In the following chapter, Peale discusses the power of prayer in healing and how it can solve emotional and physical problems which result from stressful circumstances. In chapters 5 and 6, Peale asserts there is no better way to live than to make a choice that is possible to make and worry is a hindrance to the process and must be removed. The next step to be positive believes in the potential of success, and avoid believing in defeat , as the majority of challenges can be traced to “mental in character”.

Thinking about memories is the first hurdle to conquer by cleansing the mind of negative words and thoughts of positive affirmation. Peale says that prayer is asking God to assist in solving issues is a good way to physically and emotionally cure the underlying issues.

The chapter 12, Peale states that letting the anger go and embracing an attitude of peace could assist in the treatment of physical ailments like the eczema. In the next chapter, Peale states that letting positive thoughts flow in can change your outlook on life in a profound way and that taking time to relax with God’s grace can result in a happy life.

Chapter 15 offers specific ways to create a positive impression on others. This includes guidelines: record names and give praise to others in a generous way and act as a kind person. You should also handle issues in a calm manner whenever they arise.

Peale is now looking for methods to ease heartache using prayers, meditation and social interaction as well as a regular program. The last chapter reaffirms the importance of seeking out the Divine to help you live the life that is peaceful and joyful.

Peale concludes The Power of Positive Thinking with an epilogue that encourages readers to use his techniques to lead happier lives. Peale writes “I ask for your prayers. God will be with you. Believe in God and live your life to the fullest. “

Reception

Criticisms

Peale’s work was the subject of criticism from various psychiatrists, psychologists and experts. A major critique of the book was its lack of credible information sources. Peale’s book The Power of Positive Thinking includes a myriad of personal stories the reader is not qualified to validate. The book includes stories about “a business executive”, “a man, an alcoholic”, “a friend of [Peale’s], a midwestern businessman” as well as others that are not identified and are not confirmed by the data Peale offers with each anecdote.

Similarity to Hypnosis

R. C. Murphy is a well-known psychiatrist who operates in Tacoma, Washington, addresses another issue with Peale’s writing in an article that was published in The Nation dated May 7 55. Murphy compares Peale’s ideas in The Power of Positive Thinking with hypnosis’s. Murphy explains the following “self-knowledge, in Mr. Peale’s opinion is unquestionably harmful; self-hypnosis is good. “

Murphy clarifies repeated use of hypnosis could destroy an individual’s motivation to accomplish something, their perception of reality, as well as their ability to think in a critical manner. Peale’s view about the brain as faulty along with his interpretation of how the brain works as inaccurate and misleading.

Murphy says that if the human subconscious “can be thought of as a container that holds only a few mental fragments,” concepts like’mind-drainage” come into play.

Furthermore, the usage of self-hypnosis, which is the underlying principle in Mr. Peale’s method of thinking.” Murphy concludes that the strategies of positive thinking used by Peale are too many in common with self-hypnosis, and aren’t suited for the needs of readers to self-improvement.

Albert Ellis, an influential psychologist in the 20th century and the pioneer of cognitive therapy, also decried Peale’s methods due to their close resemblance to the art of hypnotism. He compared the techniques he presented with the techniques employed by the hypnotist Emile Coue, and argued that the use of hypnotic methods can lead to grave mental health problems. Ellis said that in the end, the methods to be learned from Peale “lead to disappointment and failure, and not just boomerang against individuals, but also prejudice them against effective treatment. “

Techniques’ effectiveness

Another critique is that Peale’s philosophy does not realized through the techniques that are described. R. C. Murphy states that the principles in Peale “endorse the cruelties which men commit against each other” and urges readers to “give up their ambitions and enjoy being hateful the way they prefer.” “. Murphy says that by instructing others to dispel negativity, Peale is fostering negativity and anger.

Harvard professional Donald Meyer presents a similar critique in the essay “Confidence Man” written in 1955. Meyer states”The The Power of Positive Thinking” The Power of Positive Thinking offers a only a limited understanding of the limitations of readers, but doesn’t provide the self-confidence needed to conquer those limitations.

He continues to criticize Peale to a conman, claiming that the problem with Peale is what he calls the “paltriness of the religion he preached. He didn’t want to convince you that you could achieve anything, or even live an amazing life. Peale didn’t allow you to be aware of higher levels as much as he did more depths. “

Psychologist Martin Seligman, former APA president and the founder of the area of positive psychology critiques the method of Peale in his book”Authentic Happiness,”. Seligman writes that “positive thinking tends to be based on trying to believe upbeat statements like ‘Everyday in all ways I’m improving and getting better’, even in the absence of evidence, or even in the face oppositional evidence. “

Seligman is continuing his argument with the following assertion “if you’re able overcome the difficulty of believing these assertions, then great job. Many educated individuals, well-trained to question their assumptions, may not manage such a boost.

Similar to this, Donald Meyer, in his book The Positive Thinkers, critiques the effectiveness of Peale’s tactics stating this: Peale was always “reacted to the image of brutality by flight, not with a competitive fight. “

Meyer later quotes Peale saying “No man regardless of how captivating or powerful, can be an equal foe to such a strong an opponent as the adversaries of the world. At best the human being is a tiny and nimble being who is largely dependent on cosmic forces and the society the world in which he lives. “

Meyer considers positive thinking is harmful for people; Peale can make people appear weak in comparison in his “hostile world” with only the assistance of his methods to deal with negative situations. Additionally, Meyer is skeptical about the efficacy of Peale’s positive thinking tactics in the hostile environments Peale offers.

Theological critique

Episcopal theologian John M. Krumm criticized Peale’s beliefs because of their foundation in the faith of Christianity and defined his teachings as being atheistic. Krumm wrote “the emphasis upon techniques such as the repetition of confident phrases” or “the manipulation of certain mechanical devices” gives “the impression of a totally detached religion. Very little is said about the divine mind and purpose of God; much is made of the things that people speak to themselves and do to bring about their desires and goals. “

Krumm claims that Peale is not backed by the faith-based backing to back his methods. Krumm concludes with a warning: “the predominant use of symbolic representations that are not personal to God is a grave and potentially dangerous suggestion to view man as the primary source of reality, and to view the Divine Realities as an unpersonal power, the use and purpose of which is determined by the individual who grabs hold of it and employs it in the way he believes is best. “

Edmund Fuller, the editor of the book reviews in Episcopal Church news, warned against following the advice of Peale by writing an article entitled “Pitchmen in the Pulpit” in March 1957. Fuller warns readers not to believe Peale just because his title was ministerial.

Peale says that his works do not have any connection with Christianity in the sense that they “influence the ignorant and frequently result in disillusionment for maladjusted, sickly or unhappy people, while obscuring the Christian truth.

They offer basic conveniences, easy solutions to problems and mystery that sometimes do not provide any benefits or solutions, even in general or simple terms. They offer cheap “happiness rather than the joy that Christianity provides. “

Positive reviews

Theologians and mental health experts have been uninformed about Peale’s theories of The Power of Positive Thinking but the general public loved the self-help guide. The Los Angeles Times estimates that “legions of followers testified that the message of Peale made a difference in their lives for best and offered the best combination of faith with pragmatism. “

This is apparent from the enormous popularity of the book that sold over 5 million copies around the globe, and was eventually translated into more than forty languages. Additionally, Peale was close to American presidents Eisenhower as well as Nixon and both were impressed by his positive principles.

Numerous others have credited the Power of Positive Thinking with helping them overcome challenges. These include George Foster, of the Cincinnati Reds, Rev. Robert Schuller, the pastor and founder of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove as well as Billy Graham, a prominent Southern Baptist Minister.

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