If we think about the good and not think about the bad, our life will change by itself — this is what the adherents of the new, popular concept of positive thinking are trying to convince us of this. Of course, few people doubt that a positive outlook on life is better than a negative one. But to what extent should we rely on the power of our thoughts?
What do you want — money, love, health? By revealing The Secret (Eksmo, 2009), you can get whatever you want, that is, “intentionally and effortlessly make your life happy with the power of thought,” promises Australian Rhonda Byrne. Her book (in the original — The Secret) appeared in US bookstores in November 2006 and today has already sold 7 million copies worldwide, including Russia*. Almost simultaneously with the book, its documentary video version was also released.
What is the secret of such popularity? Last but not least — in a large-scale marketing strategy. An interactive site where each visitor can feel his involvement in something «fateful»**; design in the style of the super-popular «Da Vinci Code»; an intriguing composition of the “promoters” of the book — experts in the field of quantum physics and philosophy, personal growth and feng shui … All these people (professions that are mysterious for most readers) were brought together to illustrate to the public the main thesis (to reveal the secret): in our world there is a simple, but hitherto (for some reason) little-known law that allows us to achieve absolutely everything that we wish. The so-called law of attraction, according to which we literally attract to ourselves what we think about at the moment. If thoughts are negative, we get a donut hole, if on the contrary, we get money, keys to the apartment where they usually lie, and other pleasant things … How simple and convenient everything is!
However, Rhonda Byrne did not become the discoverer of the magical «law». The American Wallace D. Wattles wrote about it a century ago in his book The Science of Getting Rich***. In its pages, he (wrongly) interpreted some aspects of positive thinking, which originated in France in the 70th century under the influence of one of the first hypnologists, Émile Coué. Wattles’ version regained popularity in the XNUMXs, in the wake of the New Age movement, and then, becoming the starting point for some personal growth techniques, was again forgotten.
Beware: Guru!
The Secret phenomenon is not the only sign of a return of interest in the idea of positive thinking. In 2004, the documentary “The Power of Thought. What do we know about this? “This hybrid of fiction and documentary cinema has proclaimed an incorporeal thought as a “factor of influence” on physical reality, a weapon in the struggle for success in life,” commented film critic Viktoria Belopolskaya. – The film was released in theaters in the United States (and this is already a success for the film), is widely demanded on DVD around the world and … unanimously called by scientists a «quantum fairy tale» and «the most successful enterprise in popularizing pseudoscience.»
The spirit of the film is fully consistent with the atmosphere of The Secret. His task is to prove that our consciousness is able to directly influence reality; the method of proof is the involvement of «experts from science» who pose solidly in front of the camera, for example, at a blackboard covered with equations with symbols of integrals and mathematical roots. “When science is quoted, it is naturally impressive,” comments psychotherapist Ekaterina Kadieva. “Especially when it comes to matters that not everyone can understand…” In addition, the public is offered a set of impressive quotes — from Buddhist sayings to Albert Einstein’s statements. “The great physicist would roll over in his grave if he knew what scam they were using his name for! — Outraged theoretical physicist, teacher at the Radboud University of Nijmegen (Netherlands) Ronald Kleiss (Ronald Kleiss). – The activity of the brain does cause electrical and magnetic activity, but this does not make us TV towers in the universe. It’s the same with quantum mechanics: the applied action changes reality, but we cannot control the result of this action.”
John Norcross, Professor of Psychology at Scranton University (USA), speaks in the same tone. He explains that unlike publications where the content is backed up by scientific research, The Secret is replete with «unsubstantiated allegations that are much more dangerous than the usual over-the-top promises of most of these books»*****. The danger, in particular, lies in the fact that the reader is convinced that the world is not elemental, it is knowable, and it can be controlled. The reader is familiar with another active representative of the «new» positive thinking — American Louise L. Hay (Louise L. Hay). For almost two decades, she and her Russian followers have been flooding the market with their books and CDs, guaranteeing healing from the most serious illnesses solely by expelling dark thoughts … And in the end, all this is a hoax? Yes. And perhaps even worse: many representatives of the New Age movement are related to various religious sects, although they try not to advertise this. So, Louise L. Hay is a member of the Church of Religious Science sect, and the creators of the “Power of Thought …” are members of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment.
What can thought
But the concept of positive thinking has nothing to do with pseudoscientific tricks. “Positive thoughts really benefit us and our health, but do not cancel the need to work, study, make efforts,” explains Mikhail Ginzburg, Doctor of Psychology. There is a big difference between (really) positive thinking and wanting is having. And it is, first of all, in the fact that we cannot recognize our thought as the power over the outside world (“over the entire Universe,” as Ronda Byrne writes). “It’s no news to anyone that if you look at life with optimism, then life becomes a little easier,” says social psychologist Rut Wenhoven (Ruut Veenhoven), a professor at the University of. Erasmus of Rotterdam (Netherlands). – But this does not mean at all that if you ardently desire a million, then it will immediately materialize. Each of us strives to improve our lives, but there are also many who hope for magic and magic and are ready to follow a certain ritual exactly. This is the secret of The Secret’s popularity.»
Thinking positively, we can only partially influence ourselves — after all, our body and mind are inseparable. This is supported by positive psychology research begun under Martin Seligman in 1998, when he was chairman of the American Psychological Association, and by neurophysiologists’ observations of our brain activity.
Imagination in action
«Original» positive thinking differs from its dangerous counterparts in the way it is applied. “You will get everything you want as soon as you change the way you think,” promise Rhonda Byrne and others. But the real purpose of positive thinking is not to completely replace negative thoughts with positive ones, but to turn to the latter more often. “We are too often inclined to a negative interpretation of what is happening,” says psychoanalyst Anne-Marie Filliozat. “And the use of such positive thinking tools as relaxation, visualization (a visual representation of a favorable result for us) or auto-training allows us to maintain a positive attitude, restore our mental balance.”
“With the help of these methods,” continues Mikhail Ginzburg, “you can set yourself up in a positive way, for a successful outcome, but the main thing is to start acting after that, not relying on chance, fate, or on the fact that everything will work itself out.” Naive enthusiasm, reckless optimism or blind faith in miracles have nothing to do with positive thinking. Thinking positively is, by and large, considering ourselves worthy of living happily and doing everything that is possible for us to achieve this. It means to believe in yourself more, and therefore, to be freer.
*According to the website ** *** W. Wattles «The Science of Getting Rich». Wilder Publications, 2008. **** «What the Bleep Do We (K)now!?» Directed by William Arntz. ***** USA TODAY, June 24, 2007.