The Power of Positive Thinking is a self-help book by Norman Vincent Peale, originally published in 1952. It uses a history of positive cases and practical instruction to propose positive thinking methods. Peale's work illustrates how to achieve a permanent and optimistic attitude through an endlessly conscious positive thought, usually through affirmation or visualization. Peale writes that such techniques will give readers greater satisfaction and quality of life. Although reviewed negatively by experts and health experts, the Power of Positive Thinking became popular in public opinion when it was first published and continues to be popular today.
Video The Power of Positive Thinking
Author
Norman Vincent Peale, born in 1898 in southwest Ohio, graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and later received his bachelor's and master's degrees in sacred theology from the Boston University Theological Faculty. Peale then attended Syracuse University where he received his doctorate. After serving 10 years as Methodist minister in New York, Peale became pastor of New York City Marble Church Church where he lived for 52 years, until his retirement in 1984. Throughout his pastoral career, Peale wrote over 40 books, became a speaker sought-after motivations, started weekly radio and television shows, organized the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry, and co-founded the spiritual Guideposts newsletter with his wife, Ruth Stafford Peale.
Maps The Power of Positive Thinking
Publications
The Power of Positive Thinking was published in October 1952 and continues to be Peale's most widely read work. It lives on the New York Time bestseller list for 186 weeks, 48 ​​of which are spent at No Nonfiction. The book sold over 5 million copies worldwide - 2.5 million from 1952 to 1956 - and eventually translated into over 40 languages. Other books published by Peale around 1952 include The Art of Real Happiness, published in 1950, and Inspirational Messages for Everyday Life , published in the year 1955. The Positive Power of Thinking emerged as the Christian church's presence drastically increased, the national outlook on spirituality, individuality, and religion shifted, and the Cold War became a growing concern for many Americans. These factors, as well as the growing popularity of Peale as a public figure of clear motivation and book prose, encourage the Power of Positive Thinking into a self-help book that is still popular today. A
Synopsis
Peale begins by stating ten rules to "overcome disenchantment and learn to practice faith". The rules include the following: imagine yourself as a successful person, think positive thoughts to drown negative thoughts, minimize obstacles, do not try to copy others, repeat "If God is for us, who can fight us?" ten times each day, working with a counselor, repeat "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" ten times each day, develops a strong self-esteem, affirms that you are in God's hands, and believes that you receive power from God. The next chapter explains the importance of creating a peaceful mind, which can be done through reading that inspires, cleans the mind, or visualizes. Peale continued by getting consistent energy, saying that "God is the source of all energy". The mind controls how the body feels; thereby, releasing negative energy and emotions will provide unlimited energy through God. Next, Peale talks about the power of healing prayer, and how it will heal the physical and emotional problems arising from negative circumstances. In chapters five and six, Peale asserts that happiness is created by choice and that worrying only hinders it and must be stopped. The next step in positive thinking is to always believe in success and not to believe in defeat because most obstacles are "mental in character". Anxiety habits are the next hurdle to overcome by emptying positive thoughts and affirmations. Peale then states that asking God for help can solve one's personal problems and heal them physically and emotionally.
In chapter twelve, Peale states that releasing anger and embracing a feeling of calm can help with physical illness, like eczema. Next, Peale states that allowing positive thoughts in can alter one's view of life drastically and that practicing relaxation through God's help will lead to the life of the content. Chapter fifteen provides a concrete example of how to get other people to like you, including the following: remember names, praise others generously, become private, and solve problems calmly as they arise. Peale then continues with a way of overcoming hurt - through prayer, meditation, social interaction, and maintaining daily routine. The last chapter reiterates the importance of reaching a higher power to help in living a peaceful and positive life. Peale ends the Power of Positive Thinking with an epilogue that encourages the reader to follow his technique and lead a more fulfilled life. Peale writes, "I pray for you, God will help you - so trust me and live successfully."
Reception
Criticism
Peale's works under criticism from various mental health experts, theologians, and academics. A common criticism of Peale's book is the lack of verified sources. The Power of Positive Thinking includes many personal anecdotes that the reader has no way of validating. This book contains a story about "a business executive", "a man, an alcoholic", "a famous trapeze artist", "a friend of [Peale's], a midwestern businessman", and other unnamed people who can not be verified from Peale information comes with each anecdote.
Similarities with hypnosis
RC Murphy, a prominent psychiatrist based in Tacoma, Washington, discussed another critique of Peale's work in an article on The Nation dated May 7, 1955. He compared the message of Peale in the Power of Positive Thinking in hypnosis, writes that "self-knowledge, in Mr. Peale's understanding, is really bad, self hypnosis is good." Murphy explains that such repetitive hypnosis defeats the individual's self-motivation, sense of reality, and the ability to think critically. He explains Peale's understanding of the mind as inaccurate and his description of how the mind works as a hoax and misunderstanding. Murphy states that if the unconscious man "can be conceptualized only as a container for a small number of psychic fragments, then ideas like 'mind-drainage' follow, as well as dependence on self-hypnosis, which is the basis of Mr. Peale's philosophy." Murphy concludes that Peale's technique for positive thinking is too closely related to hypnosis and is not sufficient for the reader's self-development needs.
Albert Ellis, an influential psychologist in the 20th century and founder of cognitive therapy, also criticized Peale's technique for their similarity to hypnotism. He compared the techniques presented with those of hypnotic Emile Coue and confirmed that repeated use of this hypnotic technique can lead to significant mental health problems. Ellis states that in the end Peale's teachings "cause failure and disappointment, and not only boomerang back against people, but often harm them against effective therapies."
Engineering effectiveness
Another criticism is that Peale's philosophy is not achieved through the techniques presented. R. C. Murphy writes that Peale's teachings "support the cruelty perpetrated by people against each other" that encourages readers to "let go of [their] struggle and feel free to hate as much as [like]." Murphy argues that by teaching others to destroy all negativity, Peale, in fact, encourages negativity and aggression. Harvard scholar Donald Meyer presents similar criticisms in his article "Confidence Man" written in 1955. Meyer writes that the Power of Positive Thinking provides a partial awareness to the reader's limitations but does not provide the necessary self-assured to overcome the limitations. He goes on to compare Peale with an impostor who says that the problem with Peale lies in the "paltriness of the belief that he preaches." He does not really try to fool you into thinking that you can do much, or be many, or live alot. You are aware of the greater heights more than the bigger chasm. "
Psychologist Martin Seligman, former APA president and founder of positive psychology, also condemned Peale's method in his book Authentic Happiness. He writes that, "Positive thinking often involves trying to believe an optimistic statement like 'Every day, in everything, I get better and better', in the absence of evidence, or even in the face of conflicting evidence. Seligman goes on to criticize it by saying, "if you can set the achievement to truly trust this kind of statement, more power for you.Many educated people, trained in skeptical thinking, can not manage this kind of boosterism."
Similarly, Donald Meyer, in his book The Positive Thinkers, criticizes the effectiveness of Peale's techniques that Peale always "reacts to a harsh image with flight rather than competitive battles." Meyer then quotes Peale as saying, "No man, no matter how intellectful or fond of fighting, is a match for such a great enemy as a world of unfriendly He is the weakest and most impotent creature, enough at the mercy of the cosmic and social forces at in the midst of her dwelling. "Meyer argues that positive thinking weakens the individual; Because, Peale presents a weak individual compared to "hostile world" only with the help of his technique to overcome negative circumstances. In addition, Meyer also questioned the effectiveness of Peale positive thinking techniques in the antagonist environment that Peale presented.
Theological critic
Episcopal Theologian John M. Krumm criticized Peale's teachings for their foundation in religion, defining his teaching as a heresy. Krumm writes that "emphasis on techniques such as self-repeatable phrase repetition" or "manipulation of certain mechanical devices" gives "a truly depersonalized religious impression." Very little is said about the sovereign mind and purpose of God, made of things can be said men to themselves and can be done to realize their ambitions and goals. "Krumm argues that Peale has no religious support to support his technique. Krumm continues with a warning: "The dominant use of impersonal symbols for God is a serious and dangerous invitation to regard man as the center of reality and Divine Reality as the impersonal force, use and purpose determined by the person holding it and using it as the best according to it."
Edmund Fuller, the book review editor of Episcopal Churchnews, warned against following Peale's teachings in an article titled "Pitchmen in the Pulpit" from March 1957. Fuller warned readers not to believe in Peale just because he was a minister. He writes that Peale's books have no connection to Christianity and that they "influence, mislead and often upset those who are sick, disabled, unhappy or not built, disguising them to Christian reality, offering easy comfort , easy solutions to problems and mysteries that are sometimes possible, have no comfort or solution at all, in worldly terms, they offer a cheap 'happiness' instead of the joy that Christianity can offer. "
Positive review
While contemporary theologians and mental health experts criticize Peale's teachings in the Strength of Positive Thinking, the general public praises the self-help book. The Los Angeles Times estimated that "legions of followers testified that Peale's message changed their lives for the better and represented the best combination of faith and pragmatism." This is evidenced by the popularity of Peale's book, which sold over 5 million copies worldwide and eventually translated into over 40 languages. In addition, Peale is a close friend of American presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, both of whom are deeply appreciative of the teachings of positive thinking. Many others accredited the power of positive thinking to their success in overcoming obstacles including George Foster, of the Cincinnati Reds, Reverend Robert Schuller, founder and pastor of Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, and Billy Graham, a Southern Reverend A prominent Baptist.
Popular culture
President Donald Trump calls Peale "his pastor" and "one of the greatest speakers" he has ever seen. Fred and Mary Trump, the parents of President Trump, went to the Collegiate Marble Church in Manhattan with their children to listen to Peale's lectures. Trump grew up hearing Peale's teachings from his parents, and Peale led his first marriage. Trump credits his survival in 1990 after bankruptcy for the positive thinking teachings of Peale.
Building a positive psychological movement, M. Scott Peck, MD warns against the dangers of narcissism and "character disorder" (blaming others for the wrong things in our lives). Peck defines healthy mental health as "dedication to reality by all means". These include tolerances for delayed gratuities, problem solving pains, and the willingness and ability to take responsibility for mistakes. Peck's first bestselling book, 1979, The Road Less Traveled, explains that pain is inevitable; it is when people try to avoid all the pain that results in greater pain and inability to grow mentally and spiritually.
While Peale's work emphasizes great value in focusing on the positive rather than the negative in life, he also preaches honesty, hard work, and takes responsibility for mistakes.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments