Does Positive Thinking Work ?

[Purple_Popple]

In all seriousness, does the state of mind alter the perception/outcome of things if you feel happy or depressed ? Are some people naturally lucky in life ?

[society]

I agree with Woffgang, I was about to 'say' that too.

[FredPuli43]

The golfer quoted (above) was Gary Player, not Jack Nicklaus. He holed a bunker shot, at which a woman in the crowd exclaimed "That was lucky !". At that, Player turned to her and said drily "Yes, madam, and I find the more I practise the 'luckier' I get.

Player was a fine example of positive thinking, which is really no more than being an optimist. So much so that it was a joke in the pressroom that if Player shot 80 and was asked about the round he'd say "That pencil I signed the card with was really good, I think the best I've ever used" The round was gone, and so forgotten, and he'd found something good, so that was all good. No setback is ever really noticed (or often forseen) by such people. They are BoJo with his remark that he saw disasters as opportunities. Opportunities for success , or opportunities for more disasters.

My late father was like that. My mother, however, defined a pessimist as "Someone who is married to an optimist" ! No need to wonder why.

[beso]

There is a systematic bias in the reporting of the success of positive thinking. Much of life success comes down to luck.

Positive thinking people who have been lucky in life have often written books about it. Positive thinking people who have had bad luck don't don't get write books.

Luck befalls people in a normal distribution. A small number of people will be lucky a lot regardless of their state of mind. A similar small number will fail no matter how positive they are or how hard they try

Most of us just have to make the most of the opportunities that come along.

[Kassee]

So everything is down to luck Beso. When you go for a job interview, its nothing to do with how well you present, or how positive an attitude you have, its all down to luck whether you get it. Whether your marriage succeeds or fails, is again down to luck, nothing to do with being an optimist or being a pessimist or seeing the good in your partner, instead of the bad things about him/her, it just luck. I dont think so !!!

[Kassee]

I cant think of anything in my life that is down to luck. I did win £10 on spot the ball once, maybe that was luck. Maybe my good health is down to luck (dont think so tho, probably more to do with good genes, good appetite, healthy eating and exercise, and a very positive outlook).

[beso]

I didn't say everything was down to luck. However you have clearly stated that luck doesn't really come into it at all.

Positive thinking can help make the most of opportunities but there are plenty of people who have taken on a positive attitude and worked hard only to be overcome by unfortunate circumstances.

What I was pointing out is that the people who write books about positive thinking are not those who things didn't work out for and that biases the appearance of the effectiveness of positive thought.

You have been lucky that you have not been crippled in a road accident. Positive thinking or not that one is down to the random luck.