The Fallacy of Positive Thinking

Many gurus teach that if you think positively, you can have or achieve anything you want. Many books, seminars and programs have been sold to people who want to improve their lot in life, based on this theme.

Positive thinking is necessary. It is the basis of hope. Negative thinking is destructive to one's life.

However, just by thinking positive, and visualizing what you want, you will not achieve your goals. This is cargo-cult thinking and many people get disillusioned after following a positive thinking program and do not achieve any results.

Positive thinking is the first step. One must follow that with knowledge, a rational planning process, and then finally positive action. Incorporated into all of this, is a constant feedback loop to correct minor aberrations to prevent them from becoming large errors that take you off your course.

Positive thinking is not enough. One must follow it with positive action.