The Power of Positive and Negative Thinking

 

The Power of Positive and Negative Thinking


In the previous posts we discussed the effectiveness of focused thinking, as described by the French mathematician Jacques Hadamard, and others. What is actually going on in the subconscious throughout this process is debatable. One theory is that, once the subconscious grasps the problem it searches through the brain's data banks until it finds a means of solution; but it has to wait to reveal it until a time comes when the conscious mind is not focused on anything in particular, and so becomes available to receive the solution.

That theory may seem reasonable, but it doesn't explain one mysterious aspect of the phenomenon. The problem that often arises is that the missing link – that one critical bit of information that is needed to complete the solution – can't be found in the researcher's subconscious because it isn't there. If he has never studied that particular field of science the information was never in his conscious mind, and therefore it can't have been filed away in his subconscious. The researcher may realize that he needs further knowledge, but he may have no inkling of the subject that he needs to study. He certainly can't cover the details of all of the physical sciences and mathematical techniques.

In such case, the system should fail. But it doesn't. And that's where the mystery comes in. Somehow, a “coincidence” will occur – one that brings the required information to the problem solver.

In his studies of the subconscious, Jung encountered many examples of this phenomenon. He called it “synchronicity”, and sometimes by the more exotic expression “the external activity of the archetypes”. He had formulated a theory that all minds are connected at a subconscious level in a kind of “universal unconscious”. So, when the focused thought reaches the subconscious level, it taps into this universal mind and moves other minds to help with the problem.

Joel Goldsmith was an effective healer and miracle worker, who understood this power of the subconscious. He once said, “Once you convince the subconscious of something, it will move heaven and earth to bring it about”. But he also understood the power of negative thinking. And it led to an unconventional healing style. A patient might enter his office with a remark like, "I have a severe case of the flu" (or some such illness) - to which Goldsmith would likely reply, "No you haven't!" No preparatory words of compassion, or assurances of God's love, but a direct attempt to dislodge the mental acceptance of the illness. Goldsmith understood that positive focused thoughts could accomplish great things, but negative thoughts could engender disasters.

An extreme example of the potential of negative thinking was narrated by Dr. J. B. Rhine in a lecture that I attended at the University of Virginia. It was told to him by a doctor that served a rural community, including many people who led lives largely isolated from mainstream society. A woman came into his office in a state of extreme agitation, because she had found out that she was pregnant, and she was convinced that the baby would be abnormal. She was afraid that he would be born without a right hand, because her husband was missing his right hand. The doctor asked if her husband had been born without a right hand, and she replied that he had lost it accidentally chopping wood. The doctor laughed and explained that results of an accident are not inherited, so she had nothing to worry about. However, she didn't believe him, and in her subsequent pregnancy exam appointments displayed the same kind of worry, receiving the same assurance each time. But the baby was born without a right hand.

But these effects are in some way products of the subconscious mind, and therefore call for a study of the subconscious, which is the purview of psychoanalysis. Therefore, we'll continue this study under the Psychology label.

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