Positive thinking

[Rusco]

This may sound a bit nerdy or annoying softie stuff but, how much do you believe that positive thinking
could affect your chanches, fate and your life in general? Simply asking, do you believe in power of mind?

Questioning it comes often to my mind when I check for artistic jobs available. I'm an "old school" print maker as my second occupation and do some freelance projects at times. If I could choose where I'd get most of my income it would be that - offering my graphical talents to firms and customers by producing quality prints that I do (when I have time enough to that) at my working room. Sadly most of the income I get from that comes from a taxation about past year because of the engraving and carving tools I buy to my working room...
Well that's better than nothing. (My main occupation is totally different at a warehouse with containers and trucks at a wholesaler of logger's timber tools.)

Nowadays employers fill all artistic vacancies with sales mental, digital AD's that are specialized with making powerful powerpoint indtroductions at meetings. Pencils are not in need anymore, but software that can imitate the technics that were once a core thing in using etching presses and plates. I can't recognize myself from the new generation at all. There's a huge gap with different generations in occupation.

But if we could just somehow be prepared every day we are looking for some opportunities by staying optimistic, sunny and not to loose believing in our skills and what we can do - maybe we wouldn't see the failure that day. We could just move on and maybe some day there's a better chance that awakes our eyes. Maybe even find the best job ever you're satisfied with. Or...?

 

[Rusco]

Thinking about the positivity on a larger scale, some people seem to believe too that you might prevent getting a cancer or some other deadly disease by not being too afraid all the time about getting it. You know some are just all the time stressed to death about different "signs" in their health. No wonder if the immunity system fails if they're nervous all the time.

[purplehaze]

yes i have read books on positive thinking and im sure it works ,the more you think of the positive stuff ,the more things that happen to you are positive .Its seems to work a bit like karma you get back what you give out,transmit positive,recieve positive. Read a good book about it called (the secret) worth a read.

[Master Ray]

I'd love to think about the power of positive thinking... and I do subscribe to that concept (because it keeps me going in the face of all adversity) but I can't deny it gets harder and harder every ******* day.

When you're on the dole, slapped in the face and kicked in the nuts (metaphorically) every day you look for work and you're not looking for an ideal job, just something that will get you off benefits, yet you go for a shitty 14k a year office job (that's well beneath your abilities) and you know that there's a hundred people or so going for the same job... well, it gets hard to keep the sunny frame of mind. 

But I perservere because what's the alternative?

Not having a go at the whole concept, and I wish previous posters well in their endeavours. 

[Bunny]

I think its even harder at the minute Ray. There is no work out there really. Can only wish you well mate.

[Rusco]

Hey, it's interesting to hear your thoughts too. Like Drummyb said; I'm thinking that "there's no work out there really", but man what a huge loss and a waste of abilities it is... I know what you mean and often I really, really feel the same. But I'd rather see it that a need for professionals is there always, but the employers are just saving their money and efforts. They want to get over the thing quickly.

I think there's a lot of inability to offer jobs to set or cover a need for vacancies under cultural work.
At times I like to fancy about a situation where people would get salaries due to their character!
I think we need all of the so-called "village idiots" too to raise the image of little towns and make them more tempting and lively places.

[...] well, it gets hard to keep the sunny frame of mind. 

But I perservere because what's the alternative?

Well said that man.

Interesting to think is it only with us generation X or with the younger too? there's a lot of talk also about differences with the generations X/Y/Z.

[Shush]

I believe in negative thinking. Expect things to turn out bad, or gone wrong, then you won't be disappointed, you might even be pleasantly surprised !! 

[Shush]

I'd love to think about the power of positive thinking... and I do subscribe to that concept (because it keeps me going in the face of all adversity) but I can't deny it gets harder and harder every ******* day.

When you're on the dole, slapped in the face and kicked in the nuts (metaphorically) every day you look for work and you're not looking for an ideal job, just something that will get you off benefits, yet you go for a shitty 14k a year office job (that's well beneath your abilities) and you know that there's a hundred people or so going for the same job... well, it gets hard to keep the sunny frame of mind. 

But I perservere because what's the alternative?

Not having a go at the whole concept, and I wish previous posters well in their endeavours.

I think it is tragic when someone who wants to work cannot find a job, and is therefore going to waist. Having met you, you seem like a capable intelligent chap who could be doing all sorts of jobs. I really hope you find something soon. Been unemployed a few times when I was young, really did not like it. What bothered me more than boredom, or lack of money was my own self esteem and feelings of low  self worth, especially with friends on career paths, good jobs, or University.

Don't give up mate, there has got to be something out there for you. Those who have turned you down,, their  fuckin loss !!!

[Anna Woman von NRW]

Don't believe in it on the wider scale - lets all wish for peace and the world will become one kinda stuff. But on an individual frame of mind level I do believe it and try with varying degrees of success to put it in into practice. I don't think there's any solid changes bought on by positive thinking but it does subtly alter your mindset  which can help you get a bit of a lift.

Hey Ray, ain't nothing I can really say to help but a big cyber hug &  coming your way.  Good luck to ya' fella.

[Master Ray]

Cheers, you lot... your kind words do make a difference.

[Heno]

i can think about things going well and positive all the time. worthless.

if i don't do something about it they become things that are negative that i think about.

 

[Rusco]

People are different in how they treat, handle and behave with disappointments in life - to get over them. Some may seem to look for a chanche to confront all the worst and horrid things and turn very pessimistic with everything, when some would nearly chrush under such tension and rather look for another way. They both have methods that works best for them.

I'm sort of melancholic, moor person, silent at times and tend to love ironic humour. Sometimes it's even sarcasm that may give a way to look things from different sides. (It's interesting to think what laughing actually is. Some kind of self-defence...) But I think there's a faint person inside of us everyone, under our skins.

[sozbot]

I've been through some pretty sh***y things in my (relatively short) life, but on the whole I'm very happy with my life and see it all as a result of what I've been through.

Thinking positively can be very difficult, and I don't always succeed at doing it, but I find that when I DO succeed at putting myself in a positive frame of mind, I'm far more open to positive changes. If I'm stuck in negative land I will quite often fail to see an opportunity, or turn it down because I'm feeling down on myself and my abilities.

I wish there was a magic bullet that could fix the world, or even just fix me and the people I love so that we're happy and healthy and have plenty of money, etc.

Obviously that's never going to happen, but I do somewhat believe in the power of positive thinking with regards to one's own life. It may not change things drastically, but it may make a difference (and even if it doesn't, things are probably a little more bearable).

[Amandistan]

Positive thinking does not work. In fact it almost always backfires. If you expect the worst, then you can not ever be too let down.
The world is just not a positive place. Certain things make life better so it's not total crap. Positive thinking just sets you up for heartbreak, therefore It is not at all positive.the world has made me a hard-core pessimist and I guess that's my defense mechanism.

[RedP]

There's a great book on this subject: 'Smile or Die: How positive thinking fooled America and the world', by Barbara Ehrenreich. As the title suggests, she critiques positive thinking, but without implying that the only alternative is 'negative thinking'. She recommends (and I agree) that a better approach is simply being realistic - neither hopelessly pessimistic nor overly optimistic.