The power of positive thinking around Wilkes

If you feel like you are always complaining and your friends constantly tell you that you’re a negative person, perhaps it’s time to change it up and start thinking positive.

“I try to use positive thinking; it’s what gets me through nursing at Wilkes,” said Amanda Rodney, junior, nursing major.

Many people believe that if one thinks positively, only positive things will happen in their life. Around campus, the attitudes seem to reflect being optimistic, but realistic.

“I do not advocate positive thinking,” said philosophy professor, Dr. Linda Paul. “I advocate realistic thinking, this means taking into account all aspects of a situation.”

Positive thinking isn’t about convincing oneself of false realities, but simply looking on the bright side and dealing with any situations that may come their way.

“We have to work to find a good balance in our attention of the positive and the negative,” said Paul.

“Thinking positive doesn’t mean being a smiling idiot and smearing rainbows on the harsh realities of life,” said English professor Dr. Mischelle Anthony. “It’s facing life in the present moment. Recognizing patterns and being open to change in realistic, helpful ways while being as aware as possible of every one that our decisions could affect.”

It can be dangerous to only focus on the positive. However, it can also be unhealthy to focus only on the negative.

“I try to be aware of things as they are, rather than how I want them to be or expect them to be,” said Paul. “I try to appreciate them for what they are.”

“My family’s always been the ‘put on a happy face’ type,” said Anthony. She explained that she became a truly positive person after she learned about anxious thought patterns and how to deal with them.

“That’s what got me into what I call traditional Buddhism practices, which involves regular meditation and close attention to our surroundings,” she said.

Some people consider Buddhism a religion, but it’s a philosophy. If a person wanted to become a more calm and positive person, he/she can research Buddhism.  Paul teaches about Buddhism in her Philosophy 101 course.

So if someone thinks that they will get an A on a test without studying, will it work? Probably not, but if someone stays positive and doesn’t complain and dread studying, it might pay off.