Home / ya-ttitude / A Spoon Full of Positive Makes the Medicine Go Down
Try a Spoon Full of Positive To Make that Medicine go Down!
I was going through a bunch of the comments and emails in regard to my most recent series on the Great Fears and so many of the comments or emails tend to lean towards the negative. So as a refresher to the main purpose behind your great 
Ya-ttitudeTM, I am taking a day off from the fear series and dropping you a reminder. A negative mind has not the ability to create positive or good thoughts. You will be mired in the negative because it is what you spend your time thinking about. No, this is not a link to the Secret, as that is a fairly useless set of instructions, you will get much further with a basic 4-step plan to success. I do not completely disagree with the premise that you must think positive thoughts to attract positive things, but I do disagree vehemently with the thought that your thinking things will automatically just bring them to you. You need to work at it. You need to give back equally and of valued service. You need to have an emotional tie to the thought and a drive and ambition. You have to work those goals and your plan and align yourself with others to make it happen, wishing upon a star only works in Disney Movies. Making your dreams come true happen everyday in real life; and there is absolutely no reason that YOU cannot make it happen for you.
When you allow yourself to dwell on the negative parts of your day or your life, your negative thinking expands to fill all of your thoughts and actions and will leave no room for positive thoughts and positive growth. Remember: The good news here is the opposite is also true. So as you fill your head with positive thoughts and actions it will leave no room for the negative to have any effect or affect on your life or your goals and dreams. Just as the negative thoughts can become an endless downward cycle, you need to realize that these positive thoughts do the same and give you an endless upward cycle. You can achieve anything you want when you put positive to the forefront; you can accomplish nothing when you allow the negative to be your driving factor.
I know you can and you know you can - so we can’t both be wrong!
You can because you will concentrate on the task at hand, using all of the past little tips on concentration and focus that we learned a few weeks ago and then you will break the task down into mini-tasks, each one with an goal and time-frame and a personal reward waiting for you upon its completion. And when your job, goal and task have been completed, you will realize that your planning, your effort and your elimination of the negative will become a driving force to your accomplishing everything you want to accomplish; Always!
Remember to tell yourself: I could do it, and I did!
; ?>)
July 13th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Hard work and positive thinking go hand-in-hand. It’s amazing how you can find someone willing to encourage or help the person who has positive goals. Thanks for the reminders.
July 13th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I agree - You can get nothing by wishing for it to happen and then standing there in your life and waiting while doing nothing. I am so afraid that there are many people who read The Secret and believe that they can do nothing and expect everything. God I hope they are smarter than that!
Thanks SBA - Great Comment!
July 13th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Great post Benny. It is so similar to my last post and goes hand in hand with it. It is so important to tell ourselves that we can stop thinking negatively and that we can think positive. That is huge I think.
It’s interesting - I had the same thought today as one of your points. I had an embarrasing thing to happen today and I thought you know I’m just going to laugh at myself and smile. I forced myself to smile even though I didn’t really feel like it. Amazing the difference it makes. Your brain doesn’t know the difference if it’s real or not, only that it’s a smile and releases the right “happy” chemicals.
July 13th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Jennifer - You are so right and I guess so am I - That smile is AMAZING. I often find myself in similar situations to the one you described and even the smile I initially force out of me - makes a world of difference - and then - it just becomes part of me and my makeup. It is a great weapon - and an easy one to keep at your side!
July 13th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
So true! You give negative, you get negative. Positive is where it’s at. People who are positive have better blood pressure and over all better health.
July 13th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Shirley - You are so so so right. It has actually gotten to a point where I do not even involve myself in anything that seems negative. Someone commented to me the other day (after a meeting I was conducting) how I could just ignore all the negative that was going on and continue on without missing a beat. Eventually quieting the doom-sayer with both logic and patience.
No reason to get ill over someone else’s issues. Try to help - but do not allow it to overtake you.
Ben
July 13th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
So many people complain of burn-out. They are discouraged, fearful and unhappy with their lack of productivity. However if they learn the lessons that are taught here they will completely change their lives for the better. When you have a positive attitude, concentration, focus and effort will take you the whole distance.
July 13th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Nice call TT - Many people (especially my corporate clients) pay me many dollars to help them with the obvious. Sometimes the obvious is invisible - that much I understand - but usually, what you need is available when you learn to focus and concentrate your will, your thoughts and, your mind on the “things you want.” Then apply the 4-steps to success to that. Work hard, give equal value and never give up trying!
July 14th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Benny you are right and thank you for the wake up call. I have been a bit in the negative lately and I am popping out of it. Great post.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Kansas’ Hottest Mom gets down days too. See everyone - this is the real world and we all have bad days. The important part is tuning them around as quickly as we can!
Thanks for the Visit Heidi!
July 14th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Good post Benny. Thinking positively and feeling “lucky” has always helped me - as has clear visualisation of success.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Thanks for stopping by Caroline. Visualizations are a great way to “bring it home” - we will be getting into that more shortly. Can you tell us how and wht you are working on with these visualization techniques?
July 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Hey, great post! I like what you said about “Smiles are a great anti-negative. ”
Yes…both thoughts and actions must come together!
Dugg!
Evelyn
July 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Brilliantly said Benny! Outstanding post!
Loved… when you said “You need to give back equally and of valued service,” and “You have to work those goals and your plan and align yourself with others to make it happen, wishing upon a star only works in Disney Movies.”
What powerful words! It is our responsibility to do the work.
LOVE the ‘Smile’ and here’s the great thing…It works!
I believe your attitude determines the state of world you live in.
Change begins with you! Action comes out of presences (state of consciousness) it takes work, but creating anything of value takes work.
Benny, so inspirational. Thank you!
Cheers!
Christine
‘Mind made entity not your essence.’
July 14th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Christine - It is very true that wishing is for the Disney Movies. If you want something - you have to go get it - not sit back and wait for it to get you!
July 14th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
It’s so easy to get sucked into the funnel of negativity too, and it’s so unhealthy and creates an unproductive slump. I have been trying to put a positive spin on things when they come from folks that I have no way of avoiding, hey..ya think about it this way? Or often times I will throw in, you know what, you can wipe your own back side, and tie your own shoes.. think if you couldn’t? That often times stops people dead in their tracks..
Thanks for another great read Benny - your site is one I hit often for the pick me up out of the negativity storm.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hey Susie - I am glad you found the site and you find it energizing. It is my goal to help and teach and brighten a day here and there when I can.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I’ve tried hard over the years to help people I’m close to understand that dwelling on the negative only makes a situation worse… Thinking positively while taking action is a step in the right direction! Some people accept the idea and some don’t… At least I’ve tried!
A great reminder Benny.
Cheers
July 14th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I have learned long ago - You can’t help everyone. Most people who sprew that negative stuff think they are waaaaaaaaaaaaay too smart for this positive Ya-ttitude. I do not know why they believe that being negative is a “good thing.” I have often asked them to show me where they benefit from the continuous negativity, and then they just - clam up. Or worse get anygy and attack from a “temper-filled” angle.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I totally agree with that theory. I believe that if one thinks positively, positive things will happen…the law of attraction is powerful!
Great article
July 17th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
@ Sonia - Kinda ~~~ The LoA only works if you work to help the attractions. Sit back - relax and wait for it to happen - and watch… As nothing happens.
Thinking positive is a great tool. Wishing is useless. The SECRET is to work hard and give back. Lazy people get no results.
Ben
July 17th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
i think the secret hurt alot of people—-they really believe that you can just wish for something and not do any work. but a positive attitude –and minimizing the negatives really does keep one mentally healthy. benny–i’ve seen your comments and blog all over—-give me a hint—what does an ex -bronx girl have to do to get noticed? would you take a look at my sites and give me your opinion? http://www.mysisterdalesgarden.com
thanks
loved the article about being a new yorker
July 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Miriam - I agree - the Secret did more harm then it did good, in my opinion. If it motivated people to think positive and visualize their goals then it helped - if it taught people to think they could sit back and wait, it hurt. My guess is - based on sales, popularity and Oprah Winfrey - it did more harm, but that is this mans opinion. Shoot me an email - we can talk about the site - which is - great!
Benny (@) ya-ttitude (.) com
July 18th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Benny,
I Love the blog. It is an awful cycle-one negative thought leads to another negative and it leads to the other and to another and is a cycle that is terrible.
The other day I made this little quote from the word-Money:
“Mind of negativity eats you”.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
When you allow yourself to dwell on the negative parts of your day or your life, your negative thinking expands to fill all of your thoughts and actions and will leave no room for positive thoughts and positive growth. Remember: The good news here is the opposite is also true. So as you fill your head with positive thoughts and actions it will leave no room for the negative to have any effect or affect on your life or your goals and dreams. Just as the negative thoughts can become an endless downward cycle, you need to realize that these positive thoughts do the same and give you an endless upward cycle.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Hi dear Ben.
How are you?
Wonderful read!!! Just love it.
Many many years ago…I realized that being positive meant being that way no matter what was going on in my life, no matter what someone else did or didn’t do, not matter if things were going great or completely haywire…the only constant in life was how I chose to respond. I realized that being happy or positive was an internal choice that I made…no matter WHAT happened around me. Sure it is is wonderful if things are going great, but that’s not the way life always works. And for me finding the positive in life automatically increases it in my own life. The more we choose positivity the more our world becomes positive…the more we find ti everywhere we go. Sure I think we can choose who we are around, whether we eat healthy and exercise, etc., etc….and I know from experience all those things make a HUGE difference….but ultimately it comes down to what am going to identify with? Positive or Negative. How am I going to choose to react? Do I want to laugh or whine? Do we want to be happy or grumpy? Well, that’s a no brainer for me. I love to laugh and smile too much to give that up….and life is too short to waste it on petty crap….so I say go for the gold and find as much positivity in life as we can…..because yes, it’s a screwed up world, but it is one heck of a BEAUTIFUL world full of magic, mystery and wonders beyond belief. It’s the best show going and I don’t want to miss ANY o fit. Hugs to you Ben, Robin
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Robin - As usualy your comments are incredible and so full of life-truths. The attitude of wonder and love is one that we should all have. There is no reason to ever feel the opposite. Laughing and smiling and having fun should be rule 1, 2 and 3. It amazes me sometimes the extent of negative that flows from people. Then I read your stuff and just smile. Thanks for the love!
August 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Nice article.
Its always good to be reminded about the benefits of thinking positively. It give’s your mind the opportunity to look out for solutions instead of focussing on problems
August 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I can very well relate to this post. If only I entertain all the bad and negative things that are taking place as of the moment I can never go on with my life and be just depressed instead.
I agree with you that thinking positive things is not enough. we have to do something about it. We have to work for it and put the thoughts into action. The output will become very satisfactory and can serve as our inspiration, right?
December 31st, 2008 at 9:26 am
[...] When you think on the positive side you are more relaxed and less stressed. My friend Benny from Ya-ttitudeTM states, ” A negative mind has not the ability to create positive or good [...]
March 11th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I get better results when I’m thinking positively. Whining and ranting only helps me to “freeze in my tracks” like a deer in the headlights.