Mind Over Matter
There are a lot of books on this issue, I have read a few and think most are terrible, but do they have a basis in fact. Do our thoughts play a part in our success?
I would personally like to see a scientific study of this. I have heard stories of people who recover from illness when the doctors had no hope and that people have done amazing things. What I want to know is whether thoughts will affect your success. If you have 2 people who do the same job, one creates a brilliant business the other only scrapes by a living. Imagine their skills at their job are comparable. What is the difference?
The book The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b84427/The–Science-of-Getting-Rich/Wallace-D-Wattles/? Talks about this, that if someone is the most brilliant at their job but thy do not have the right mindset, and by this I don’t mean they don’t want to succeed, what I do mean is that on a fundamental level they do not believe they are good enough to succeed. The best thing about this book is that it does not say that having the right mindset is all you must have, you must work hard. The thing I would like to know is when 2 hardworking people have 2 different mindsets, which person will succeed and has the mindset had a factor.
When you are self employed or have your own business and you have been struggling for a while, it is very hard to keep positive, you start questioning whether to stay in business or to continue.
Is this the mind over matter that all the books talk about? Who knows.
For any of you who have never had a panic moment in business, were is my next cheque coming from, you don’t know what I am talking about. Most businesses struggle at some point, especially starting out, would changing our mindset help us do better.
This last week I have had extremely negative thoughts about business career etc but yesterday started a mantra of fundamental positive thinking, and today I already have one lead. Think I will try it more 
How does it work for you?
14 Responses to Mind Over Matter
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Ah, Katherine … you have opened up a fascinating Pandora’s Box here.
An awful lot of dollars / pounds / euros /other currencies have been made out of people promoting the whole “positive mental attitude” issue with endless books, courses, retreats, and even whole cultures (think “Law of Attraction” and all of its siblings.)
Anyone involved in such activities will swear blind that positive thinking can cure anything from bankruptcy to scabies. However despite being a “positive thinker” myself when it comes to my two entirely discrete rounds of cancer before the age of 55, I have fairly sceptical views about the realpolitik of positivity – especially in a business context.
Like so many of these issues, this one needs to be perceived in a practical light. If you are upbeat in your work and exude positive stuff then of course you are going to seem more attractive to potential clients/employers than someone who shrinks behind a negative view. But there is no “hocus-pocus” here; it’s purely about basic human nature and human communication.
As you say, a scientific study into how positive thinking can help people in real terms would be a fascinating and potentially life-changing activity.
Sadly though, such a study requires funding and it seems unlikely that the big pharma companies or other commercial giants would have a vested financial interest in such a thing. So like so many other very valuable but commercially uninteresting issues, I suspect this one will be ignored.
Very, very sad. But good on you for bringing it up.
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
Ah, Katherine … you have opened up a fascinating Pandora’s Box here.
An awful lot of dollars / pounds / euros /other currencies have been made out of people promoting the whole “positive mental attitude” issue with endless books, courses, retreats, and even whole cultures (think “Law of Attraction” and all of its siblings.)
Anyone involved in such activities will swear blind that positive thinking can cure anything from bankruptcy to scabies. However despite being a “positive thinker” myself when it comes to my two entirely discrete rounds of cancer before the age of 55, I have fairly sceptical views about the realpolitik of positivity – especially in a business context.
Like so many of these issues, this one needs to be perceived in a practical light. If you are upbeat in your work and exude positive stuff then of course you are going to seem more attractive to potential clients/employers than someone who shrinks behind a negative view. But there is no “hocus-pocus” here; it’s purely about basic human nature and human communication.
As you say, a scientific study into how positive thinking can help people in real terms would be a fascinating and potentially life-changing activity.
Sadly though, such a study requires funding and it seems unlikely that the big pharma companies or other commercial giants would have a vested financial interest in such a thing. So like so many other very valuable but commercially uninteresting issues, I suspect this one will be ignored.
Very, very sad. But good on you for bringing it up.
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
Blimey – hot potato or what!
It was only a matter of time before this issue cropped up because it’s one we are bombarded with on an almost daily basis.
It’s probably very good that a software systems application trainer has raised it (beat me over the head hard if I’ve got the synopsis of what you do skewed or wrong, Katherine).
Why good? Because Katherine is likely to be seen as a saner, more scientific contributor here and less likely to be ‘flaky’ than those here with ‘softer’ skills.
I’ve read Wally’s book several times over the past few years and (like Suze probably!), have explored the writings and recordings of many others who claim to know the answer to the meaning of having the best life possible.
I’m wary of my brain being tampered with by those who can help me reprogram my attitude to be ‘more positive’ yet have themselves been substance abusers and, whilst financially well rewarded, seem to be living lives pretty empty of personal love, warmth and happiness.
if you read Wally’s book properly, I believe he advocates positive thought with positive action: Navel gazing and dreams of “I can have it all” don’t cut it…
And it makes sense to really consider what any of us want, what it will demand of us, what affect it will have on those we care about, and so on.
My take is: Go after what you want with your feet firmly on the ground and your head as high as it will go! But don’t get what you want and then moan about the bits you didn’t want that just tagged along…
A good mindset is great – it’s not everything though, just part of the whole – as I see it…
Twitter: Linda_Mattacks
Positive thought backed up by positive action… beginning with the end in mind, it’s all the same but with a lot less waffle
The right outlook is essential but to be honest, if I worked in a ‘always look on the bright side of life’ business I would want to slash my wrists after a week. For me to work in business is to have a holistic view and not a one sided mantra!
Blimey – hot potato or what!
It was only a matter of time before this issue cropped up because it’s one we are bombarded with on an almost daily basis.
It’s probably very good that a software systems application trainer has raised it (beat me over the head hard if I’ve got the synopsis of what you do skewed or wrong, Katherine).
Why good? Because Katherine is likely to be seen as a saner, more scientific contributor here and less likely to be ‘flaky’ than those here with ‘softer’ skills.
I’ve read Wally’s book several times over the past few years and (like Suze probably!), have explored the writings and recordings of many others who claim to know the answer to the meaning of having the best life possible.
I’m wary of my brain being tampered with by those who can help me reprogram my attitude to be ‘more positive’ yet have themselves been substance abusers and, whilst financially well rewarded, seem to be living lives pretty empty of personal love, warmth and happiness.
if you read Wally’s book properly, I believe he advocates positive thought with positive action: Navel gazing and dreams of “I can have it all” don’t cut it…
And it makes sense to really consider what any of us want, what it will demand of us, what affect it will have on those we care about, and so on.
My take is: Go after what you want with your feet firmly on the ground and your head as high as it will go! But don’t get what you want and then moan about the bits you didn’t want that just tagged along…
A good mindset is great – it’s not everything though, just part of the whole – as I see it…
Twitter: Linda_Mattacks
Positive thought backed up by positive action… beginning with the end in mind, it’s all the same but with a lot less waffle
The right outlook is essential but to be honest, if I worked in a ‘always look on the bright side of life’ business I would want to slash my wrists after a week. For me to work in business is to have a holistic view and not a one sided mantra!
hi Kath…
Desperately need some of that mind over matter stuff! Trying to find a new job and seeing how many jobless people there are vs how many jobs there are can be mind boggling in itself! Somebody pass me the positive thinking please….
B
Hi Bian
1 Love yourself and all the good things about you
…
2 Remember it’s the job that’s redundant – not you
3 Get clear about what you want
4 Do what others won’t do – be flexible – part time, freelance to ‘get your foot in the door’?
5 Use your network
6 Go back to 1
Twitter: Linda_Mattacks
Thanks Linda.
Reminding myself to put at the top of the list – ‘Finish reading Linda’s superb ebook on redundancy!’
Started it and loving it but haven’t had time to complete it.
Bx
hi Kath…
Desperately need some of that mind over matter stuff! Trying to find a new job and seeing how many jobless people there are vs how many jobs there are can be mind boggling in itself! Somebody pass me the positive thinking please….
B
Hi Bian
1 Love yourself and all the good things about you
…
2 Remember it’s the job that’s redundant – not you
3 Get clear about what you want
4 Do what others won’t do – be flexible – part time, freelance to ‘get your foot in the door’?
5 Use your network
6 Go back to 1
Twitter: Linda_Mattacks
Thanks Linda.
Reminding myself to put at the top of the list – ‘Finish reading Linda’s superb ebook on redundancy!’
Started it and loving it but haven’t had time to complete it.
Bx
I am a very positive person and all my life feel I have been lucky. Having said that, my husband died of cancer when I was not quite 40, so I realise some people might think I ought to be more negative – it’s just not my style!
I have been sorely tested in my positive mental attitude over the last year, but I refuse to become one of those people who moans about everything. It’s so soul destroying.
So, I’m currently being positive in the face of relative adversity, but I’m sure it will all work out, because in my experience it always does.
(My partner, who is a perfectionist realist, wonders how I can sleep at night!).
I am a very positive person and all my life feel I have been lucky. Having said that, my husband died of cancer when I was not quite 40, so I realise some people might think I ought to be more negative – it’s just not my style!
I have been sorely tested in my positive mental attitude over the last year, but I refuse to become one of those people who moans about everything. It’s so soul destroying.
So, I’m currently being positive in the face of relative adversity, but I’m sure it will all work out, because in my experience it always does.
(My partner, who is a perfectionist realist, wonders how I can sleep at night!).