Positive Thinking--A National Pandemic?

Positive thinking has long broken out of the ivory tower inhabited by a few cognitive psychologists. It has spread widely as it paired up with the American ideals of optimism and freedom, as well as with popular Eastern ideals such as good karma. When I overheard a woman in my sport's club locker room say: "My new resolution is never to think a negative thought", and all surrounding women nodded in quiet agreement, I could no longer deny that the spread of positive thinking has reached pandemic proportions. Yes, in my opinion believing in positive thinking is a bug, a bug that can wreak havoc in the minds of enough vulnerable people to call for concern.

It is likely for positive thinking to be harmful when (A) negative thinking is warranted (i.e. "I don't like this. This is bad. We should end this war!"), (B) it triggers guilt, dishonesty or hypocrisy every time we entertain a negative thought, and (C) it is based in misconceptions that slow the process of becoming. Let me explain my concerns further.

The woman in the locker room was sharing her resolution as she was frantically doing her hair, rushing to go about her business. Her movements were hectic, her facial muscles tight, the tone of her voice judgmental. I have seen her many times. She rarely smiles, seemingly always on the go. This time was no different. I think it possible that the notion of positive thinking helps preserve the status quo. It may even cause her to become more self-critical as she inevitably will think negative thoughts. And if she supports her belief in positive thinking with misconceptions of Buddhism, it is unlikely that she will receive relief soon. Suddenly, the harmless and often beneficial technique of positive thinking is no longer part of the solution to her hectic life, but part of the problem.

We can inoculate ourselves against the harmful effects of negative thinking by (A) seeing the value of occasional negative thoughts, (B) by exercising compassion and patience when we do not succeed in thinking positively, and (C), by confronting misconceptions of Eastern thought.

As it pertains to misconceptions, it is important to understand that Buddha did not preach positive thinking. He also did not preach the "law" of attraction, namely that we attract good things when we think good thoughts. Buddha started out with practicing meditation for many years. He was not eager to think positive thoughts, but to think no thoughts. Thoughts distinguish and create distance between things, entities, and events. Buddha wished not to be limited to experiencing the world of form in which we distinguish. Therefore, after nourishing his body and relaxing his effort, he sat down quietly under a Bodhi tree for the night. He was determined to transcend the world of form. Empty of thoughts, he slipped deeply into his awareness. And when he became aware of his awareness, he woke up to the non-distinct oneness of life.

Once the mind is calm, once we take the time to sit and stare, once we are aware of our awareness doing our hair and getting dressed for work, we are bound to have positive thoughts, And when we have negative thoughts, they pas freely through the empty space that is our awareness.

Of course, this does not mean that we cannot use the technique of positive thinking. It can be useful and the Buddha knew that. As long as we treat positive thinking as such, a potentially useful technique, while sitting and walking and blow-drying our hair quietly, we will be inoculated against the belief in positive thinking, and free to think whatever we want.