RSA ANIMATE: Smile or Die
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Acclaimed journalist, author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich explores the darker side of positive thinking.
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Produced and edited by Abi Stephenson, RSA. Animation by Cognitive Media.
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When I was told about the law of attraction as a child, I broke down crying because I internalized that it was my fault for ruining my own life with my own bad thoughts and feelings, and if that's how life works than I'd be in trouble.
Good times. 🎉
I love this - So many people demand a constant smile, happy cheerful demeanor & tone & the crazy things is all these optimists are ready to jump down your throat, become antagonistic the moment you veer from the script- So it is like a state of fake cheerfulness driven by fear & social coercion- People need a healthy flexible spectrum of self expression at all times-
Love this video. I've been complaining for a while about 'the positivity cult' and the dumbass idea that people can change their environment with magical thinking
I read "The Secret" with hesitation because I suspected it was more of "that", and it was and more. After reading it I was depressed for several weeks about my life situation, and also disturbed because I didn't want a luxury lifestyle, just a less stressful one, and the cash flow to pay for a few specific life activities and experiences. I felt like a failure for not WANTING what they talked about in the book. Since then I have come to respect Shakti Gawain's "Creative Imagination" even more, not just for it's simplicity, lack of fluff, and emphasis on responsibility/moral integrity, but for the curious, almost "finger of fate" way in which it gained popularity in the early 1970's.
I think a lot of people either miss the point of the video or haven't seen first hand how in a company you can never EVER say something isn't working or else you are "being negative".
Once you are "being negative", nothing you ever say or do will ever matter because you are a "negative person".
@@Whoopsie_woggzy it sounds like you are "bitter"
Change--conditon improvement--only happens when enough people get angry and decide to act.
You are right. I went through that and litterally reprogrammed myself during teenage. It worked. I feel fine now and it's been over 40 years. It's all about self esteem I would think. This is the realistic assessment of what oneself is capable of doing and appreciating it.
This is the exact method of control my mother has used on me since the day I was born.
Barbara Ehrenreich is a wonderful woman. Absolutely succinct framing of nonsensical "positive thinking".
I like how it's being interpreted as a drawing because I'm not really good at learning from listening. I have to visualize things to understand them. These videos have been a great deal of help for me.
She makes a fantastic point. People seem to think that positive thinking alone will just magically change things, but that's not it. I think that having a genuinely good attitude about it is meant to encourage you to go out and make it happen! Sitting around with a smile on your face won't do anything, but it also doesn't help to sit around and think "it's just the way it is." At least a positive attitude encourages you to get up and get things done, and EARN the million dollars you want.
Positive thinking as social control. Wow. Brilliant and true.
And mean, too! No one WANTS to be in a bad situation, and purely positive thinking will just make things worse! Moderation is definitely the key.
@@DavidAllen-px7gr ''Unfortunately,'' writes a black Harvard graduate named Christopher H. Foreman Jr. in a letter to The New Republic about ethnic sensitivity training at Harvard, ''the psychological comfort of being simultaneously privileged and oppressed seems too enticing for many people to forgo.''
More realistic thinking than faking you are super happy in a crappy situation:
If you are in sh!t, try to calm down, talk with friends, never be afraid to ask for some help, and provide help to friends when they need. Be positive? As the situation let you be positive. If you are down, try recover fast.
Strong people aren't who seem to be happy always and have no problems. Strong people can recover and rebuild when everything is against them in life. It is not a sin to get unhappy with your life, the sin is to lie everybody that everything is fine.
This is very deep.
I'm amazed such a positive human emotion as hope can be used to give a message that contrasts so severely with the original thought.
I think this video is more a message of how those in positions of power can abuse human altruism and hope much more than the idea these feelings are destructive.
Corporations co-opted the language of the self-esteem movement and turned a phrase like "your feelings have value, so do not let a tragedy ruin your life" to "it's totally cool that you're going to starve to death in a ditch now".
Can't get over what a genius talent the artist is.
2021
It is all completely computer-generated, even the person drawing
I think I'm starting to see where the pathological fear of clowns comes from...lol.
Anyway, I've seen this video a few times, it's one of my favorites, I've been surrounded by this type of thing my whole life and it is a bit traumatizing... :P
"quantum physics, for some reason, has become an excuse to mock all of science."
:D
Stick to the Thunder Bolts Project channel and their Electric Universe Theory
Any positive thinking I've ever seen is always coupled with a realistic action plan. If thinking positively doesn't have a realistic action plan, then it's not positive thinking - it's fantasy
You know...I always got nervous when I heard about the Secret. Like a mentally thought "This should be a positive thing to like...but why does it seem dangerous?" This is the reason I suppose.
In my opinion I'm discovering that it's all about appropriate emotional attention. Giving and indulging into positive or negative thinking for no longer than will serve to give me a new idea or view point about what I want to accomplish and then let go and move on.
Such a great talk! Can't believe I missed this.
I recently had a bad break up, and needed the help of my best friend at the time. She became an optimist after her own break up last year which I tried to help her through. Now that it was my turn, she started seeing me as a pessimist and actually argued with the way I felt, now she doesn't bother talking to me at all any more or following through with any plans we make.
+Belbecat Btw this artist is godly....
+Belbecat yea fair-weathered friends are a dime a dozen, that's why everybody is such great "chums", "pals" or worse ... "buds",..when partying. yea, BTW, you don’t need any truth denying optimists as friends... nobody does, they are simply incapable of such personal relations.
+Belbecat Well, unfortunately most people are just egoists and covards ... they wait for help when they need it but beeing already happy don't want anyone to disturb it with its problems ...sad ....but sooo convenient;)
@@cyberpunkspike cutting through the matrix
One of the best videos I have seen in a while and recently I have been listening to a lot of motivational, the secret, jim rohn etc just because I need it. At the end of the day, what I have taken out of all of them so far is that you need to be realistic, not positive, not negative. If you are broke acknowledge, but believe that you have the power to change it, don't just say everything will be fine, I have the universe on my side.
There's quite a difference between Stoicism, positive thinking, and Positive Psychology.
+Anchor Senjaro I think that is where it is dangerous. Stoicism. I was hired at an air port coffee shop, and they told me how we will be very busy some days and that no matter what we were required to smile. They said "I don't care if you are having a really bad day, knock it off. Smile, bang it out, and go home." "Don't hang around either once you're off, go!" I think that is terrible, considering how much time most of us spend at our job, we develop relationships with those people, so how is someone suppose to act so fake, swallow the bleeding emotions and not allow it to express itself. that's where depression comes in, holding back true emotions and feelings. becoming down and hopeless about life because the springing well of emotional stimulation and creative inspiration has been clogged up. Even worse is the business people we serve expect the smiley experience, and the minute something goes wrong they act harshly and mean toward us and when we react with anger too (of course someone gets mad at me, yeah well I don't like it either, don't blame me, we're in this together if you'd be so willing to cooperate and not be a jerk!) they get sooo mad when the baristas get overwhelmed by their dissatisfaction. like talk about a huge lack of empathy and dominance over people. a few times now I've had business people who acted all nice until something didn't go the way they wanted it and they turned so mean! We struggled to fix it for them and they were just mean! yikes. Fakes love fakes.. That's the law of attraction, you enjoy being fake, or strive to be fake and dishonest with yourself and others, guess what you get in return? people who either can't fit that idea or a group of fake smiles, aggression and people who talk about eachother behind their backs.
I think its sad that we tell each other on a day to day basis, either verbally or culturally/nonverbally, that crying isn't okay, being down or sad isn't okay, being upset or bothered isn't okay. Its mass control it is, and messed up, what does it really get us? Horrible social relationships.
Exactly. I wouldn't want to frequent an establishment which required their employees to smile. If someone smiles at me, I want every opportunity to believe that it is a real human expression, not a 'service rendered'. Performative positivity is alienating, dehumanizing and creepy, not just for employees, but for customers, clients and partners too. You can't build a strong brand on inauthentic behavior.
This video is brilliant; the animations are wonderful and the overall message of realism is fantastic.
Check out the British philosopher John N Gray for somebody who talks about similar concepts just in a more detailed way. He usually gets, unfairly in my opinion, labelled a pessimist too.
It's crazy to think that you have to actually tell people to be real. I think this is in part why America is not one of the happiest countries in The World because most American citizens all their life's have just done what is seen as the norm and by conforming to the norm they are denying themselves of their own reality thus denying their own ability to find what would truly make them happy.
I am continually blown away by how these RSA videos marry profound exploration with creative art to double slap me out of my stupor. Ignorance is the deadliest of flaws.
I wonder if toxic positivity had anything to do with what's happening in Silicon Valley.
Whoever is drawing is a really good artist with great penmanship. Great style!
Did any one else think Wayne Dier? Not spelled right but he is all about if you think it the world will deliver I am amazed people think such an easy solution is an option for such complex problems personality and socially
Every time I see something like this, I feel grateful to have interned at a really awesome non-profit research center.
I truly think this is true, many assume because I speak of being positive that I would love the book The Secret. I don't. I never have since I first smelled the book. This explains why. First time I have seen it spoken of so well.
I do believe we can create things by writing them down, dreaming them, walking the walk to make it happen and knowing when to let go and move on and excepting the fact we may not recognize the right moment to move on or hold tight but do recognize the value in walking the walk no matter how it turns out.
It is important to understand that thoughts actually affecting outcome is true in some circumstances (the uncertainty principle does exist). There is quite a bit of extremely solid and well tested evidence that support thoughts can be transmitted. It's weird stuff, but none of it is like this. Thought will not get you money. Thought will not bring a tsunami. Thought alone won't bring you happiness. I really like these presentations. Very informative and insightful stuff.
IMO, the author's point was not that there was a problem with Positive Thinking, Attitude, & a Smile (PTAS). I don't think she was saying that these things are not required. I took her issue to be with the mindset that PTAS is always either sufficient unto itself or the single most important factor to overcome every problem and every obstacle.
If I had a dollar for every time somebody insinuated that all my problems and obstacles would magically solve themselves and go away if I just had PTAS, I wouldn't need to work.
Positive (or negative) thought changes nothing, action is needed. Use positive thoughts to take positive action. The "be positive or else" is a negative action. Create a positive atmosphere through positive actions and a lot more positive will be accomplished.
I'd like to send this as an email to the whole office of course it would be corporate suicide though. /sigh
Did you ever send this?
@@Risky_Boots999 the word genocide is now used indiscriminately by all communities who seek to express their collective identities through past wrongs.www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2002/jan/29/features11.g22
Before I clicked on this video I didn’t know it would be Barbara Ehrenreich. I remember when she said this on “The Daily Show.” It was the wrong thing for me to hear then and now. I’m recovering from depression, and learning to think more positively is a necessary cognitive change.
I agree with her main point, positive thought can be blinding and a toxin to social organizations. Though by the end she was saying positive thinking contributed to aspects of both communism and and free market ideology. A sort of blaming it for everything that has went wrong. People who understand the virtues of socialism or free markets are not naive, they have arguments. Arguments need to be addressed in this case, not attitudes. (aka ad hominem logical fallacy) Economic questions need a bit more nuanced observation than a false dichotomy of "positive thinking social control" vs "realism"
There's a difference between optimism and positive thinking. Positive thinking is enforced non-negativity. Optimists hope things will go right while being prepared for the fact that they might go wrong. Positive thinkers deny any possibility of things going wrong. It's delusional and pathological.
gryphontamer What is the basis for making this distinction?
I just think there are people who have a strong personality and and people who get depressed easily. The only thing I needed in my life is to think more positive and focus less on my problems and more on the good things I have and this book helped me when I was in my worst moments.I guess people expect too much from this book and that`s why are so disappointed. We should be intelligent enough to get the best out of it and not take everything so literally.
I think this is conflating a lot of things that aren't related, for the reason that hindsight determines what is delusion and what is not. In terms of the mortgage crisis, it wasn't positive thinking that got those people fired, it was that there were people who had positions that would actually profit from the eventuality they were trying to warn against. Failure is productive in the finance industry. There are agendas going on with networks above the subordinates and employees that aren't privy to those strategies. It's only natural that when the smart ones figure out what's going on, they are let go, because they are spoiling a future profit point.
An attitude of empowerment is a necessary part of resilience. Positive thinking or positive delusion is a part of that, but you can't be delusional about things that haven't yet occurred. If that was true, then all forms of hope and ambition and planning would be considered delusional. If you don't believe you can accomplish something, you won't even try. Positive attitude in that sense is about confidence, competence, and belief in what you can achieve if you conceive of it.
The Secret and all that magical thinking stuff is in no way connected to that kind of positive-attitude-resilience. The Secret says, "If you think about it, it will come to you." Resilient positive attitude says, "If I think it is possible, then I have a chance of achieving it."
I think it's too convenient to conflate these two kinds of attitudinal practice and pepper in references to groupthink and institutional conformity and whistleblowing without marking them as independent and separate dynamics at play. Thought doesn't change the world, it changes behavior. And it is a BIG assumption to say that we can know all the thoughts of all the people who contributed to the launching of the Iraq War and the Credit Default Swap Crisis. I think there are a lot of assumptions and undercurrents in this presentation that need examination.
Awesome comment!!
Yeah, I liked the comment too. And I disagree in that thought doesn't change the world. For me, the placebo effect is an example of this: How I relate to the future affects my physiological body.
Lack of positive thinking is what got them fired, because they tried to raise the alarm. Watch it again and actually learn what Ehrenreich said.
Adam Sanford a
No... as professorbland has said... Those people got fired because they tried to sound the alarm... it just happened to be "not positive"... but it was a setup from the beginning... the powers in control were "positively" affecting the mortgage system ( in a negative way) for their own benefit... they were very "positive" about it. Its the rest of the country who didn't know the real plan who got blindsided by the "negative" aspects of the plan... the reason "positive thinking" didn't win out was because nobody knew that the people in charge "the big banks" were setting everything up to fail... they planned the whole thing... positively
Adam Sanford Adam, there is a difference, and it's an unfair comparison. Countrywide Mortgage was in the midst of committing a criminal act, the complainers were terminated since they could potentially derail the crime.
There is a huge difference between suggesting to management a better way of doing something that would either benefit the company, or the health and welfare of employees, (a positive approach) or simply complaining over and over to management that things aren't going the way you want. I'm talking about a normal company not one involved in committing fraud on a large scale.
These are always great to see and hear. The theory on realism is, don't laugh, subjective. The truth about what happens isn't something you can predict or just point out like a math problem. There's many ways of seeing everything. Things only get true or real in your own perspective. If a feels optimistic about getting fired or sad, it'll be "true" or "real" either way he sees it. And if someone else has the opposite perspective it'll be truth versus truth. Until one guy changes or submits.
To the people who argue that "positive thinking" is the key to greatness, thanks for the laugh! You're completely ignorant of history. Any man who accomplished anything great from a historical perspective was EXTREMELY DISSATIFISED with the current circumstances. Dissatisfaction is in fact the key to change that leads to success. The last time I checked, positive thinking is the complete opposite of dissatisfaction.
Positive thinking and dissatisfaction can coexist. While being dissatisfied, it is positive thinking that gives the grit to go on and try again and again and again in order to get the imagined outcome!
ZeroOne337
There is no doubt that DOING things is required. It is a misunderstanding by some
people who think that sitting and thinking of stuff would bring someone knocking their doors and bringing them health, fortunes, etc...
Action is required in positive thinking, no one can positively think of winning a lottery ticket and not buying one in the first place.
Positive thinking is not versus taking action, that was never the point. The point is that taking action with a lack of positive thinking will not reach a good outcome.
And a lot of people already do that. They do their jobs properly, work hard, raising a family, and drooling around their tv's, thinking negatively, and going on in their petty, fragmented, individualistic lives and goals.
When you say 'That's positive DOING' I suppose you're referring to grit. Grit, according to Wikipedia "...is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual's passion for a particular long-term goal or endstate, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective." So while grit, as you mentioned requires DOING an action, it is actually a mental state for the action to be taken.
Positive thinking is not a reaction to DOING things and hardworking, it is a reaction to DOING with Negative or NO thinking.
In the financial context you seem to be interested in, what would the 'great mass of people' need to DO in order to topple the financial elites and spread more equality? and what really forbids that action from happening?
While many action steps can be pointed out, each person will think in a different approach. Some might think that they can do something if at least 50% of the mass DO it with them (like you said, as a whole), others might think that they can't do much, or even if they can do, they won't sacrifice what they already have and don't want to enter the unknown. This seems like a game of thinking, just different mindsets and no action is taken yet, right?
While Your Positive thinking that something CAN be done is great, others may not share your enthusiastic point of view. That's where your DOING won't reach the light, since you probably won't be able to get the 50% of mass to support you (assuming you're starting a movement).
Nothing is 100% bad. not even positive thinking. It's yin and yang in this world.
MegaAvalonn Satisfaction is the opposite of dissatisfaction.
Positive thinking is the belief that you can actually do something about your dissatisfaction.
Dissatisfied negative person: Complains & moans about their situation. (i.e. stays at job they hate, scared of losing security)
Dissatisfied positive person: Does something about it. (i.e. quits the job they hate, starts a business doing something they love, enjoys life, becomes successful)
Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation.
I enjoyed her speech, very true indeed. One of our most fatal flaws is mistaking realism as pessimism, and it is ridiculous how some people are so overly defensive when others question the validity of optimism. I am pretty sure they are some people who will watch this and think she is shallow.
Positivity, in moderation, is cool, but suppressing negative emotions is one of the most psychologically POISONOUS things there is.
definitely
i agree
A useful antidote to the cult of positive thinking. Correctly identifies it as a form of social control. I have seen this suppression of criticism at work in the work place.
why does the speaker think that positivism is analogous to wishful thinking. You should think positive and work hard! There is scientific evidence that demonstrates world class athletes perform better when they visualize success (i.e. positive thinking)- that doesn't mean they don't practice! No one should expect things to happen on their own just because you wish them to, but healthy optimism is essential for happiness and productivity.
@johmaldenf for every world class athlete, there are tens of athletes whose best times are less than world class but whose hard work made it possible for the world class athletes to get to the top in healthy competition.
Your correct that care positive
There is one thing that I like with the secret. And it is that they say "Yes, you do attract what you think about, but if you jump of a building you are going to hit the ground". And I really think that this sentence settles the deal. Think optimistic, but also be thankful for what you have. You are likely to loose your life if you jump of the eifel-tower and if you are thankful for your life you dont want to do that.
You're very talented! These drawings must have taken ages!!! :O
It is all completely computer-generated, even the person drawing
i've never thought that being positive had any magical qualities - just that people won't really want to hang around you (or hire you to work for them) if you make them feel bad whenever they are around you
Excellent, excellent, excellent.
I developed the same outlook as Barbara Ehrenreich who explores the darker side of positive thinking around the 7th grade when I was twelve (12) years old at Charles MacLay Junior High School in Pacoima California.
Post Script: Moderate optimism is a goal that will always be difficult, but worth it just like Aristotle Golden Mean regarding becoming angry at the right time with the right people
Tomorrow-Tue,3 Jan 2012 is my Forty-Seventh (47th) birth day so I will y'all a Happy New Year!!!
You're fired!... Why so serious??... See, it's your problem!! If you were smiling and seeing how positive everything is, including being fired, you'd attract wealth into your life, so smile!!
It is true. I watched the movie of the book: The Secret. During the entire movie I could not stop thinking how much BS was in it.
Positive thinking without Empathy is where her arguments/perspective stem from....and in that frame are totally understandable.
When we isolate positive thinking as a singular tool/understanding and talk about it in the context of some people use it - example corporate world its easy to see where it becomes unwise.
I would appreciate to hear her acknowledge the validity of positive thinking, then address how it can be, like any tool, used in ways that are not helpful, supportive, healing in certain circumstances. ... Input empathy ^_^
An example of Positive (Delusional) Thinking:
"Capitalism is fine. It's the best that we've got."
We don't capitalism. To think we do is delusional thinking on your part.
KARL MARX Indeed. Or the dispossessed penniless, exploited and crushed proletariat of any country.
KARL MARX A country live the Republic of Congo being Capitalist or Socialist honestly wouldn't change that much for the people. The culture and history of a country are much more influential to its "success".
metric man Socialism in one country is not really socialism at all.
Socialism can only make a real difference if it becomes the dominant global economic system.
Then the Congo might see some improvement. Remember that culture is largely derived from i.e. shaped by the base/economic system.
Harry Strong Maybe, maybe not. My point is blaming poverty solely on ideology in this day and age is naive. You're right about economy influencing culture, but I feel like this is also true vice versa.
This illustrated version of her words is excellent. The artist is talented and adds a great deal of humor which sharpens her sarcasm and wit. Well done.
The faulty assumption that this entire argument is centered upon is that people are foolish enough to believe that positive thinking alone will change a situation. Instead, what people correctly understand is that changing what they Believe will ultimately translate into a change in Attitude, Behavior, and therefore Consequences. B->ABC.
What I mean is, can you imagine any change throughout history that was a product of positive thinking? It was always from a position of frustration, anger and dissatisfaction that change was made possible.
Lol never thought I'd see 'danger' and 'positive thinking' in one sentence together.
I think it depends where it comes from. Saying that 'positive thinking' needs to be stopped is preposterous. Obviously it doesn't meant that you become a robot taking everything like a bitch. It basically means to have self confidence. To know that you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Many successful buisness people throughout history have been saying it in one way or the other.
Of course if a business fires you and then just tells you "well it's okay, just stay positive". It's a lazy excuse from their side. If they were really trying to help, they would offer you some life coaching. But they won't. After years of loyal service, they basically put you on the street and say 'now you're on your own'.
"you are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to"
Oh, really? Tell yourself about how you can fly after I throw you off the roof.
She *specifically* argues for realism. Realism is acknowledging that you're plummeting toward the ground, and may be about to die. You can "be positive" about that if you wish - "At least it'll be quick".
CyberiusT Being positive doesn't mean that you ignore your deeply-held beliefs, like gravity. That's like slapping a random guy in the face, positively thinking that he'll be ok with it; you KNOW he won't be.
However, if I really feel passionate about say: flying above forests like a bird, then there is nothing that stops me from trying out paragliding for example.
Or, if paragliding is too restricting, I might then be inspired to create the next generation of bird wings that let you glide with a ratio of 1:10. Maybe attach a small electric motor to increase that to 1:15.
At this point others are going to say "No this is impossible all impossible", but the positive person KNOWS that nothing is impossible, if you set your mind and creativity to it. Everything we have today was considered impossible at some point.
The point of positive thinking isn't to ignore your beliefs, but to know that you can always achieve the goal (state of being) that you want, by using your and other's' creativity. Point is to view blocks/failures as challenges that show you opportunities, rather than a 'no cross impossibility line'.
Yaroslav Larkin
Right on bro. I think people who badmouth "The Secret", should listen to Bob Proctor. He was in that movie also and he explains positive thinking really good. I don't see positive thinking as ignoring all the negative either. Positive thinking is constructive and motivating way of living. Barbara talked about searching on the real problems and trying to solve them. Well that's basically positive thinking. You always move forward, never stop and say "Oh this can't be done, it's hopeless, it's too big of a problem".
What...? "Nothing is impossible, except for the things that are obviously impossible." What kind of message is that? Did you even watch the video? Some of the things covered were, for example, the prices of real estate constantly going up. It was impossible, literally impossible, for that to keep happening and the market to remain stable, because eventually the bubble would burst. Just like it's literally impossible for me to get magic powers and fly away on a broom. Thinking hard and being positive doesn't fix things like that.
CAN being positive help? Sure, in some ways. It can give you an artificial confidence, help you push through things you don't want to do, and give you some extra hope to hold on to. And yes, it can even help motivate you to try new things, be creative and innovative, and search for alternatives rather than giving up.
The goal (or 'state of being' as you put it) can be anything, because we are creatures of imagination and originality. That doesn't mean I can become a 300ft tall robot with laser shooting arms, or anything else out of fantasy. Realism is exactly that, ACCEPTING REALITY.
"many successful people have done X". This is an example of survivorship bias. Even if those successful people did do X, does not mean that X is good, desirable, noble, moral, worthwhile or effective. They might be successful in spite of X, or X may have played no role at all in their success. The only thing we can say for sure, when presented with such statements, is that someone *believes* that X contributed to their success. We can't deduce that belief in the effectiveness of X is not a delusion. For every business or individual that 'makes it', dozens fail. Shouldn't we take the 'positive thinking' of the failures into account too, if we are to make an honest and accurate judgement about whether or not positive thinking is actually useful, healthy or important?
I was a cynic years ago. I was seeing so many unsuccessful people blindly climbing long stairs without any critical thought and seeing their 'chances'.
I was able to see how problems could go wrong - and amend them. Problem was that I was so pessimistic, I would often pass up opportunities - even those with little to no risk or cost, because 'it might still go wrong'.
You can still have a positive attitude while being true to your feelings and continuing life to the best of your ability.
8:11 "Your fired"
+Austin Stoddard Admittedly I'm scrolling to see if anyone else caught it.
Lol
2:19 I have a problem with her basic premises such as this one (right where she begins to take off in developing her points after some fallacies have been made: eg: "Circular reasoning that positive thinking is delusional"). There's actually quite a lot of physical proof to this: Physical efficiency in sports through change in mindsets and attitudes, quantifiable evidence of how self developing activism can affect your surroundings through 'mirror neurons' in other people, and you can even throw in how quantum particles can be changed by one's conscious even in the large scale physical world.
Since fewer people would understand the science behind the explanation having to do with physics and neuroscience, I'll provide a more universal example of how Bob Beamon changed how the long jump event forever after the 1968 Olympics.
Bob Beamon broke the long jump record by a number thought to be impossible. Rather than breaking the record by a few inches, Beamon jumped more than half a meter further than the previous record. The optical device installed to measure the jump distance was not even designed to measure jumps of that distance. Something changed: What had once been though to be impossible had been known to be possible. As a result: all subsequent long distance gold medalists have jumped distances much longer than previous averages. What was it that brought about this change in the Olympics? The breaking down of the acceptance of what you cannot do, which Ehrenreich goes on to use as a premise for her Realism policy (which in my view, can actually limit you depending on the individual).
Don't get me wrong, I still agree with how forcing people to react different to tragic outcome is bad. I'm just saying that maybe... just MAAAYBE having a NON-FORCED positive reaction can actually make all the difference and may lead to above-average result if you're a compatible individual. Can this really be so hard to believe for a realist? Can she at least admit that the same system does not work for 100% of the population? Can a realist of her scale admit that realism works for some, and beliefs work for others? Can she stop making non existent links with how staying positive against adversity is a delusion? Can she at least admit that most of her premises are based off of assumptions of social science phenomena and fallacies, and give the people with an ounce of historical, scientific, and biological (mirror neurons), the benefit of the doubt?
“One can prefer to be an optimist or a pessimist, but the best approach is to be an empiricist.”
Hmmmmmmm?
When I adopted a more positive attitude, it only felt like a 'magnet' because I was more confidence and pursuing of more opportunities, and it was so natural and unforced I did not even notice myself climbing stairs that I would not have attempted with my previous mode of life.
My body language and how I approached people was different, and my self-esteem (something I struggled with) went away with it. This did not just help me financially, but in relationships and other areas of my life.
ON THE "LAW" OF ATTRACTION
If the secret is out,
and the public's still smitten.
Why do author's now shout,
"A new sequel is written."
From the box comes the cat,
Schrodinger's missed allusions.
There's not science in that,
Just mistakes and illusions.
What else can they offer
but gullibility's reign,
While true knowledge does suffer,
the smear of greed's stain
I think if teachers taught like this, i would be passing everything. It's so much easier to understand not only hearing the words but seeing it drawn out in a way that's easy to comprehend.
The whole delusion of positive thinking has sprung from a well of thinking hat we can't have a positive attitude and STILL be realistic about things.
That's where the railroad left the track
The key to positive thinking is the unconscious... It doesn't matter how positive you are or how much you say it... if you don't truly "Feel it". That is the real secret... "positive thinking" is just that... thoughts. And you can't just put on a smile and fake it... you must embrace it with every atom in your body... (Hence, why people cite quantum physics here Barbara) Every cell in your body must be in line with your intentions in order to exact change... problem is, most people have so many hidden negative aspects in their psyches, they can never realize anything positive because the secretly "know" that being positive won't really help. Change comes from within. If it was easy... everybody could do it... That is the real fallacy being ousted here and unfairly challenged by Ms. Ehrenreich... Positive thinking is a whole body thing (emotional, physical, and spiritual). Most people are barely in tune with their own physical bodies let alone their emotional and spiritual bodies... Until you are at peace with yourself, positive thinking is just a dream. But is it possible, its just not easy to do the hard work on ourselves and remove the blocks of negativity that we have created. And the blocks others have created for us that we hold on to as "Truth"... kinda like a the "misspoken truth" that this video tries to make you believe... Anything you can think of... is possible. Positively. Don't let others tell you differently, its those "other voices", those of your parents, your teachers, your siblings, or friends who you still hold on to that hold you back. Your unconscious desire to be accepted by them and prove their "negative thinking" true is the wall that prevents your "positive thinking" from really working
I was sent here by Upworthy, and have never disagreed with anything I've there. This however, is taken way out of context. I know from personal experiences that if I think positively, I have more positivity around me. If I think negatively, negativity happens around me, because it's what I choose to see/feel. And the Secret is saying more like ask for what you want, put out the positive vibes, and you will begin to see and have the courage to choose the route you need to take to get there, not that it will magically appear always. It's about having faith. It's really what you make of it, but positive thinking isn't about having your head in the sand. And I'm sad this video has such a strong/important message, but carried it out from the wrong angle.
I agree with you, Kileen. I was slightly taken aback by the speaker's blatant dismissal of the power of positive thinking and the message that the Secret tries to inspire. However, I also understand the point that she's trying to make about being realistic, even if she makes the point poorly. There's a fine gray area where life works best, and that's the area where faith and reality are equally balanced.
One other point of contention I had over this video was her comment about Bush's cheer-leading days, "not an athlete, but a cheerleader." Now, I'm NO fan of George W. Bush, believe me; and I was never a cheerleader or involved in any sports whatsoever; but even *I* know that cheerleaders ARE athletes! LOL
She did state that she wasn't promoting gloom or pesimism did she not? Noone is saying that positive thinking is bad, but to force yourself to just "think positive" when you see a mountain of troubles forming in the horizon will not solve anything. The only way to solve a problem is to address it and not to pretend that it isn't there. Realism is what she promotes and I'm glad at least someone is speaking up for it out there.
I get why the extreme of positive thinking is dumb. You need to address problems, and nothing works unless you do, but... most people who are "realist" are pessimistic in reality. They spout out crap, they speak off purely opinion, claiming "i'm being a realist" I think that we need to think we can do things and believe that they are possible if we ever wish to achieve greatness. And Realist are BORING! The people we remember are not the people who took fact as fact! They went searching for a better Truth! The other problem with realism, is that whats real for you might not and is probably not whats real for me... we have different abilities, values, knowledge,and experience... We view the world from where we are... from what we've experienced. If having a realistic outlook meant you see the good for good and bad for bad, and understanding the possibilities that ARE out there it would be great and right. If it meant we could see possibilities and didnt shove life into a box that's so small that it suffocates and dies, it could work. But we are flawed human beings, and true realism is like true communism... it doesnt and can't exsist. Humans are ever changing from extreme to extreme our emotions and hormones playing with our thoughts and opinions.... but if you go with positive thinking you can make a habit out of always reminding yourself the bad things dont last and that you get to choose if your going to lay down and die or get up and fight. It doesnt mean shutting up and playing nice... thats DUMB! Living positive has changed my life, and being positive does not make anyone an idiot, it makes them sure of themselves, Confident. And for people who argue against the Fact "you're capable of anything you set your mind to" arent you glad people like the Wright Brothers, and Alexander Graham Belle didnt listen to people like you who thought that they were doing things that werent possible... I mean they were just being 'real' with them.
This is probably the most relevant video to anyone who works retail, it breaks you.
This is the WORST thing you can do to your employees.
I can buy into the overarching premise of Ehrenreich's talk, however, this speech of hers is so riddled with biased political talking points that the thesis gets lost. For example, equating George Bush to Rhonda Byrne is frankly stupid on multiple levels, while blaming the financial meltdown on greed only is a dramatic oversimplification of the reality of what really happened.
***** Yes, small world. Next I plan on running into at Walmart!
You missed the point of this video. She talks about nonsense of positive fake cheerfulness as opposed to what it really is. Realism
George Moya No, you miss the point of my objection. Read what I said again. My opening line was, "I can buy into the overarching premise of Ehrenreich's talk..."
I actually agree with her larger point.
Ike Evans oh good for you what you want to button
I have been thinking about this as well. I have been battling depression but for a very long time I was absolutely terrified of being sad or feeling negative emotions. I chased and chased after feeling happy again and of course, on many occasions, lied to myself about it.
the illustrator is superb ....
I agree that overuse of optimism can be dangerous. We learn how to deal with things by trial and error; if you make a bad call I think it is important for you to take a critical stance to see where you went wrong and apply the lesson in the future. But I also think that if something bad happens to you which is out of your control you have to be able to smile and forget about it, obsessing will only make you miserable. What you need is a delicate balance that few people seem able to attain.
the first step toward resolution is identifying the issue. this is laid out perfectly to explain how what might have been temporary social problems became long term, overwhelming and life destroying problems. even now, people who continue to shine a light on issues are then either blamed for the issues (kill the messenger), or told to do something about it alone.
until we leave the light on, reward the messenger (bradley manning), and take on the task of resolution together, we're doomed.
The enemy is two-fold ....
1. Those who see criticism/challenge of ideas/identification of risk as negativity/a bad thing.
2. Those who ignore the reality of a bad situation because they choose not to because it doesn't fit their paradigm.
Blind Optimism is more likely to damage than Blind pessimism in my view....
Spot on Barbara.
This is so true it hurts, my worldview just got partially shattered. I have never heard of Barbara Ehrenreich before my goodness I will look her up.
Without Positive thinking I wouldn't have beaten a serious Chronic illness.
She's not saying people should be sitting around thinking bad thoughts about themselves. She's advocating AGAINST these ideas:
A) thinking happy thoughts WILL change the world outside of your own mind, and
B) if people who disagree, or who have doubts, shut up, and stop thinking those negative thoughts, those bad things WILL NOT happen.
Simply put - wishful thinking gets you nowhere, and CAN actually cause bad things to happen.
Thinking about stockton rush, he sacked his safety chief for calling out the flaws
Sometimes Positivity is all you have. It can be the difference between rising up to challenges or suicide.
Mrs. Ehrenreich has it right. Believing that positive thinking on it's own is going to make any difference for you in the real, physical world is lunacy. I challenge everyone here who is championing the power of positive thinking to think long and hard about how great it would be if the laundry or yard work did itself. Think of it for a month, and tell me how that works out for you.
She is not advocating pessimism, but realism. There is a difference
The examples she was citing were the extreme. There is a definite personal benefit to focusing one's thoughts towards things that are good, that is, in a general sense. So in other words, if everything else in life is fine, and you're just having a normal day, it usually does you more benefit to think about positive things than it does to think about negative ones. With that as your baseline, you can build a space upon that to process the thoughts and feelings that come with real life negative events. The process is most beneficial as a process, though, and can become destructive if it becomes rumination.
(continued) I've worked as a psychotherapist. There are numerous psychological studies that show that positive thinking has a beneficial effect on our lives and our health. In the testing, pessimists and cynics end up being less healthy, less happy and living shorter lives.
Part of this is because what we think effects our emotional responses, which effect a myriad of biochemical changes in our bodies. Hormones and neurotransmitters can effect our health, mood and longevity.
I really agree, as distressing as it is, nobody wants to listen to the person who thinks realistically (it's the same thing as pessimism to some people), they all want smiling yes-men. One of my college communication courses had list of "Types of unhelpful people in meetings"; one of them was called "Dr. No" and was described as the type of person who would always 'bring down the group' by looking at the possible downsides or risks of the endeavor.
What this video ignores or avoids is the difference between shallow positive thinking for appearance and the true, honest positive thinking as it really works. First of all, it's not just about 'thinking' and 'dreaming' but action has to be taken. It's more about persistence. The other side of motivation is that life really is scary and can take a toll on you but the only way one can sanely persist through the hard times is thru not being afraid to act on their positive thoughts.
The problem with 'thinking' and 'talking' in general is that many do not EXECUTE on what is thought or talked about. Knowing the right thing to do or saying what the best solution to a problem is holds little calue next to DOING what needs to be done to fix what is wrong.
Part of positive thinking is first identifying what you don't like about your world, then applying a plan to change it for the better, at what point did positive thinking become delusional? Realism is part of positive thinking, but realism alone will not put forth any CHANGES.
Realism allows you to see opportunities AND pitfalls. Rampant optimism and pessimism both turn a blind eye to half of the story. Making realistic estimates, predictions, ideas is a lot more difficult than to 'go with the obvious readymade answers' (I'll fail/I'll definitely succeed, duh), but it holds much more long-term worth.
"It's all in you are head pal!" lol
Optimism is good for starting out - pessimism is good for finishing off and maintaining a finished project.
This guy draws like mad fire nonstop and never makes any mistakes.
You see how after every little bit his hand drops down out of frame? That's so he can make mistakes and cleanly edit them out. Still impressive though.
"The death of a salesman" by Arthur Miller is the epitome of this
Listen to what he said after Marilyn Monroe died
You cannot change the world with you positive thought, but you can change your own state of mind and other peoples perception of you, thereby getting a different response from the world than you otherwise would.
Do you know how much of my childhood you just exposed to me? No wonder my mom always loved the adage "dont worry, be happy" while I was failing existence; it's exactly like soviet mind control!
I think it is more complex than that, but ofcause ones attitude towards problems /posibilities, has a significant meaning. I would just like to cross the individualistic thinking that comes along with this positive thinking moovement - you really lay all responsibility over at the individual person - Sometimes good outcomes it is also about what posibilities a friend can see, and what attitude a friend support...
This video is great is showing how we are just fooling ourselves with this 'positive thinking' and that we must get REAL in order to create/make any kind of substantial change in this world. Desteni is walking this process, as a collective group, stopping our imaginary worlds to see what is really going on in this world, how it functions, why it functions and to find solutions that are BEST for ALL. Thanks for this video!
Quantum physics has established a few things - 1) that the SAME particle can be in two places (maybe more) at once; 2) that effect can come BEFORE cause 3) that particles can become entangled and have an affect on each other instantly no matter the distance. This provides a mechanism or basis that perhaps our universe is no more fixed than life as a character in a computer game - rigid to the character, but the user can easily change the game or code. And what if we are a character AND the user?