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We often hear smart people say, "Always be positive. Don't be negative." And what they really want us to do is tell lies. They don't want us to be real.
If you develop a mind that sees only the positive, you'd never get an honest picture of what's really going on around you. Worse, if you twist truth and present the negative as a positive, you may become a professional liar.
Real life is always a mix of positive and negative. The bible is full of examples. Here's one:
They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine. The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.” [Jeremiah 5.12-13]
The false prophet wanted Jeremiah to be positive about things, especially to see only the positive. But Jeremiah kept on talking about the negative---because that was the reality in his time, as God saw it.
What Mind Health or Healthy Thinking Really Is
Mind health or healthy thinking is not about being positive or negative. It's about being truthful and honest. Many people are lured by positive thinking and the ability to blind oneself to reality so that what one sees is only the positive.
Many people tell me it isn't right to think that there are ugly people. "God did not create ugly people. We're all beautiful," they insist.
Yeah? So, who created the ugly people I see? The devil?
Often, I tell people straightway that I'm ugly, below average and often think stupid. And they're shocked and feel sorry for me. But I don't feel like a failure about it all in any way. From there, I try to build up and improve.
Being a strong person is not denying your reality but accepting it maturely and making the best of it. Stop telling lies to yourself. Be truthful, thank God for what you have and make the best of it.
There are people blessed with fine features and appearance but there will be people who'd ask, "Why have you made me like this?" [Romans 9.20]. The bible says, healthy minds and spirits would not blame God for the way they are or the way they look. Instead, they would understand that everything is for a reason and God's power is really made perfect in weakness.
That's the right attitude to have, instead of lying and making a fool of yourself, pretending to be what you're not.
They say success in career or business is just keeping a positive mind about it all. Never think you can't do it.
Well, not quite, Here's what Jesus said about it:
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ [Luke 14]You don't just fool yourself and go on with whatever comes to your mind. You should pray and think about it. Consider the pros and cons. A lot of what's in your mind are pure imagination, not God's will. And many times, you have to take risks, even if you have carefully considered and planned everything.
Risks mean, you may or may not succeed. I mean, you may be able to build a complete tower with good foundation and all that, but people still won't go up there to see the view above.
Finally, many church people think getting healed of disease means you deny you are sick. "Oh, I'm not sick. I claim healing in Jesus' Name!" Telling a lie will never work with truth.
First, you admit you're sick or accept the fact of your health condition. Then, you ask God to get rid of it. It doesn't make sense to tell God, "God, I'm not really sick. Please heal me."
A Measure of Positive Thinking
We do need a measure of positive thinking, but one that considers and weighs reality. It goes like this:
"I'd pray to God for guidance, consider pros and cons, decide and pray again. I'll do it in faith. But success or failure, whatever the result is, I know God has a good purpose. I believe that failure itself is success when things are done with faith in God. One thing for sure---I'll end up wiser and stronger whether I succeed or not."
That's healthy "positive thinking" that faces reality and does not lie.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [Romans 8.28]She wrote Harry Potter books, not exactly my type, but what she said here about failure is worth listening to.
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