Hello Hr skippers,
An eye opening article on the negative impact of positive thinking
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey!!
You know......Recently someone sent me a mail asking the reason for so much positive thinking, going in and around us.I knew very well at that time and still...... that my wisdom is like politics,Has its own limits.I am still at debt in answering that question and believe me some time it gets scary.
But the question is absolutely right....Why do we need so much positive thinking....And does in reality it effects our performance to think too much positive.
Does it hurt to think positive?
Don`t you think this positive thinking has made people more of a dependent on this phenomena.Rather then making us independent.
Why are we running from those negative thinking? These question are still unanswered in my mind.But if NASA would not have thought about those negative effects of going in space,It would not have been possible to visit moon.
If no -ve charge would have been there we would have still be playing with stone age players.
Here i am not advocating Plane negative thinking.....No if you got that, My mistake.
I am talking about constructive negative thinking....
One phenomena which has taken me on another level is CNT (Constructive negative thinking)and its effect on people and their performance.
What I Found:- I did some basic research(Still its continue......) and little insane experiment on my friends and colleagues. I separate my friends into 2 groups(That too with out telling them).One with whom i always used to talk about positive side of the coin and used to tell them about their good qualities(We will call them group A) and another with whom i never talked positive, not even talked about their good qualities just plain normal people(We will call them B). One day i challenged each member of both the groups to complete 5 specified task which were designed to test their attitude, to check their patience level, to understand their approach towards a task, to know the after work happiness and to have a clear understanding of before and after the completion of task (It was done with each member separately at individual level,as i didn`t have required finance).I started with asking few question about what they think about the task?and Do they think they can complete the task easily? If a task seemed impossible to complete in specific time will they keep on trying or move on? What can Make them quit their task?.
The answers of Group A and B had lots of difference.But the main surprise came after all the tasks were completed.Both the groups performed on a Near to similar level.Both the groups had 50% success rate,Most of the thing were similar except one thing...The group A members which were talking positively before the experiment,were still talking positive about performing well next time.But the result were showing that 45% member of group A got impatient faster then group B which distracted them from completing the task. More then 34% of the group A member were failed to concentrate on the task as the level of difficulty arose. In last we gave them some random thing like color, pics of various moods(Happy, sad, normal, angry,calm,normal) of men or women to choose and did an exercise of writing the very first thought in one word which crossed their mind when ever they choose something or were asked something.The result shown that around 73% were unhappy about their performance and were doubtful about their next performance although they were claiming they were happy and will do well in next turn.(If you want details of the research conducted,drop me a mail).
Their were many factors which needed to be mentioned here but i have my own limitations and even our research is still in infant stage.The only thing which i can say to you is right now is "Don`t be so much positive" It can hurt you and your performance.
Source of the article:- Don`t Be So Much Positive!! It can hurt you and your performace <link updated to site home> ( Search On Cite | Search On Google )
Thanks and regards
Ashish
From India, Delhi
147An eye opening article on the negative impact of positive thinking
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey!!
You know......Recently someone sent me a mail asking the reason for so much positive thinking, going in and around us.I knew very well at that time and still...... that my wisdom is like politics,Has its own limits.I am still at debt in answering that question and believe me some time it gets scary.
But the question is absolutely right....Why do we need so much positive thinking....And does in reality it effects our performance to think too much positive.
Does it hurt to think positive?
Don`t you think this positive thinking has made people more of a dependent on this phenomena.Rather then making us independent.
Why are we running from those negative thinking? These question are still unanswered in my mind.But if NASA would not have thought about those negative effects of going in space,It would not have been possible to visit moon.
If no -ve charge would have been there we would have still be playing with stone age players.
Here i am not advocating Plane negative thinking.....No if you got that, My mistake.
I am talking about constructive negative thinking....
One phenomena which has taken me on another level is CNT (Constructive negative thinking)and its effect on people and their performance.
What I Found:- I did some basic research(Still its continue......) and little insane experiment on my friends and colleagues. I separate my friends into 2 groups(That too with out telling them).One with whom i always used to talk about positive side of the coin and used to tell them about their good qualities(We will call them group A) and another with whom i never talked positive, not even talked about their good qualities just plain normal people(We will call them B). One day i challenged each member of both the groups to complete 5 specified task which were designed to test their attitude, to check their patience level, to understand their approach towards a task, to know the after work happiness and to have a clear understanding of before and after the completion of task (It was done with each member separately at individual level,as i didn`t have required finance).I started with asking few question about what they think about the task?and Do they think they can complete the task easily? If a task seemed impossible to complete in specific time will they keep on trying or move on? What can Make them quit their task?.
The answers of Group A and B had lots of difference.But the main surprise came after all the tasks were completed.Both the groups performed on a Near to similar level.Both the groups had 50% success rate,Most of the thing were similar except one thing...The group A members which were talking positively before the experiment,were still talking positive about performing well next time.But the result were showing that 45% member of group A got impatient faster then group B which distracted them from completing the task. More then 34% of the group A member were failed to concentrate on the task as the level of difficulty arose. In last we gave them some random thing like color, pics of various moods(Happy, sad, normal, angry,calm,normal) of men or women to choose and did an exercise of writing the very first thought in one word which crossed their mind when ever they choose something or were asked something.The result shown that around 73% were unhappy about their performance and were doubtful about their next performance although they were claiming they were happy and will do well in next turn.(If you want details of the research conducted,drop me a mail).
Their were many factors which needed to be mentioned here but i have my own limitations and even our research is still in infant stage.The only thing which i can say to you is right now is "Don`t be so much positive" It can hurt you and your performance.
Source of the article:- Don`t Be So Much Positive!! It can hurt you and your performace <link updated to site home> ( Search On Cite | Search On Google )
Thanks and regards
Ashish
From India, Delhi
Hi
You make a very good case for Balanced Thinking. Your Constructive Negative Thinking (CNT) suggestion is a very pragmatic and reasonable idea. I particularly liked the way you have gone about using some experiments to validate your hypothesis. Your subsequent exercise and analysis that put a question mark on the real thoughts of the so called positive thinkers is a real eye-opener.
In my view Positive Thinking must be an outcome of a realistic probability than mere wishful hope. The practicality and reality must be give due weightage else optimistic outcomes would be expected purely because of an overwhelming positive thinking influence. eg. if a student has not prepared well for exams it would be disastrous to expect excellent results simply by thinking positive.
CNT on the other hand is a good way to mitigate risks. The premise here is centered around the belief that an effective damage control mechanism can always come in handy and certainly protect the downside. Eg. the life jackets and life boats in ships or the safety helmets worn at construction sites are testimony to CNT in practice.
You have certainly triggered a good debate.
Regards
From India, Mumbai
You make a very good case for Balanced Thinking. Your Constructive Negative Thinking (CNT) suggestion is a very pragmatic and reasonable idea. I particularly liked the way you have gone about using some experiments to validate your hypothesis. Your subsequent exercise and analysis that put a question mark on the real thoughts of the so called positive thinkers is a real eye-opener.
In my view Positive Thinking must be an outcome of a realistic probability than mere wishful hope. The practicality and reality must be give due weightage else optimistic outcomes would be expected purely because of an overwhelming positive thinking influence. eg. if a student has not prepared well for exams it would be disastrous to expect excellent results simply by thinking positive.
CNT on the other hand is a good way to mitigate risks. The premise here is centered around the belief that an effective damage control mechanism can always come in handy and certainly protect the downside. Eg. the life jackets and life boats in ships or the safety helmets worn at construction sites are testimony to CNT in practice.
You have certainly triggered a good debate.
Regards
From India, Mumbai
Thanks to all who`s has read about my little experiment and spacial thanks to those who have taken time to appreciate (Sirsa....A.Ari...B.jacob) it.
From the very first day when i started as a trainer.......The +ve thinking phenomena has attracted me. As our friend ACT has discussed some good points about this.
I am sure you all must have some kind of experience in you about Positive thinking and its affect.
I request all those people who come across this post to share their views( It can help us in our research further)
Help us in understanding " How Positive thinking can affect the performance in both the manners +ve and negative."
Thanks and regards
Ashish
From India, Delhi
From the very first day when i started as a trainer.......The +ve thinking phenomena has attracted me. As our friend ACT has discussed some good points about this.
I am sure you all must have some kind of experience in you about Positive thinking and its affect.
I request all those people who come across this post to share their views( It can help us in our research further)
Help us in understanding " How Positive thinking can affect the performance in both the manners +ve and negative."
Thanks and regards
Ashish
From India, Delhi
Hello Asish,
Many Thanks to you for your novel post.
It is just a coincidence that today there happens to be another
posting by one of our members, Sri S R Balaji, on how to avoid Negative thinking.
I made a small contribution to that thread before I read your thread.
Since you have invited other views from the readers I wish to place my views here.
Positive thinking, Negative thinking, Realistic situation, Safety, Systems, Procedures etc
have distinct domains with some overlap.
Our thinking influences our action.
Positive OR Negative thinking, reflects our attitude in any given situation.
NASA certainly has to consider all possible outcomes before they put a space ship in orbit.
A lot of work is done before the space ship leaves the earth.
They start questioning about People Safety, equipment safety , emergencies etc and proactively
have solutions in place. They also take into account the past experience both pleasant and unsavoury
as inputs, learning while designing their programmes.
For that matter walk into any good factory.
You will find a host of Safety interlocks, Poka-yuke ( Mistake proofing as defined by the Japanese),
Defined Safe and Unsafe acts, SOPs etc.
They take into account what can possibly go wrong and how still Safety can be ensured.
Coming to more practical day to day things, Child lock in cars, Child lock in TV remote ,
Fail-safe systems in Lifts, Safety belts in cars, Airbags in cars etc are all in place to prevent
mishaps, to a large extent. These creations are the result of possibility thinking.
Suppose some has to catch a flight and the normal travel time to airport
is half an hour. If one starts just before 15 minutes, we are not going to call it
positive thinking. Suppose if another person leaves two hours early, then
he is not a negative thinker. All we can say is that the first person is not realistic
and the second one is realistic in his approach.
We have often seen people prepare for their court cases, from the point of view of
a Devils Advocate. This helps them to be on guard.
An expert chess player takes into consideration, the possible moves of the opponent
as perceived by the opponent, in addition to his own. This strategy is there in
almost all competitive games and sports. We would call them preparations.
Imagine two persons, of opposite outlook, stuck in a quick sand and there is a rope
dangling in front of them. The positive minded fellow will be concentrating on how
to get out of the mess using that rope. The negative thinking person will rue the
incident that pushed him there and do nothing else and reign himself to fate.
A Positive thinking person sees any difficult situation with a ray of HOPE.
A Negative thinking person sees the same situation as HOPELESS.
V.Raghunathan .. Navi Mumbai
From India
Many Thanks to you for your novel post.
It is just a coincidence that today there happens to be another
posting by one of our members, Sri S R Balaji, on how to avoid Negative thinking.
I made a small contribution to that thread before I read your thread.
Since you have invited other views from the readers I wish to place my views here.
Positive thinking, Negative thinking, Realistic situation, Safety, Systems, Procedures etc
have distinct domains with some overlap.
Our thinking influences our action.
Positive OR Negative thinking, reflects our attitude in any given situation.
NASA certainly has to consider all possible outcomes before they put a space ship in orbit.
A lot of work is done before the space ship leaves the earth.
They start questioning about People Safety, equipment safety , emergencies etc and proactively
have solutions in place. They also take into account the past experience both pleasant and unsavoury
as inputs, learning while designing their programmes.
For that matter walk into any good factory.
You will find a host of Safety interlocks, Poka-yuke ( Mistake proofing as defined by the Japanese),
Defined Safe and Unsafe acts, SOPs etc.
They take into account what can possibly go wrong and how still Safety can be ensured.
Coming to more practical day to day things, Child lock in cars, Child lock in TV remote ,
Fail-safe systems in Lifts, Safety belts in cars, Airbags in cars etc are all in place to prevent
mishaps, to a large extent. These creations are the result of possibility thinking.
Suppose some has to catch a flight and the normal travel time to airport
is half an hour. If one starts just before 15 minutes, we are not going to call it
positive thinking. Suppose if another person leaves two hours early, then
he is not a negative thinker. All we can say is that the first person is not realistic
and the second one is realistic in his approach.
We have often seen people prepare for their court cases, from the point of view of
a Devils Advocate. This helps them to be on guard.
An expert chess player takes into consideration, the possible moves of the opponent
as perceived by the opponent, in addition to his own. This strategy is there in
almost all competitive games and sports. We would call them preparations.
Imagine two persons, of opposite outlook, stuck in a quick sand and there is a rope
dangling in front of them. The positive minded fellow will be concentrating on how
to get out of the mess using that rope. The negative thinking person will rue the
incident that pushed him there and do nothing else and reign himself to fate.
A Positive thinking person sees any difficult situation with a ray of HOPE.
A Negative thinking person sees the same situation as HOPELESS.
V.Raghunathan .. Navi Mumbai
From India
Thank you so much Dear V.Ragunathan,
I have read many of your wise and humors post. One which i liked the most is "Integrity'. This was one of the finest one line teachers.Thank you for that.
You have presented and yes i would say, redefined the topic in a new way. I highly appreciate that.
I would love to have more discussion with you on the same platform
Warm regards
aSHISH
From India, Delhi
I have read many of your wise and humors post. One which i liked the most is "Integrity'. This was one of the finest one line teachers.Thank you for that.
You have presented and yes i would say, redefined the topic in a new way. I highly appreciate that.
I would love to have more discussion with you on the same platform
Warm regards
aSHISH
From India, Delhi
Hello Mr Asish,
Thank you very much for your kind words.
If I have made even a little bit of contribution towards learning
that motivates me and also provides new learning for me as well.
As I am on the threshold of entering the sixth decade,
perhaps I may get more time to interact in Cite HR.
I will be happy to interact and increase the avenues of New Learnings.
V.Raghunathan..................................... ..................................... Navi Mumbai
From India
Thank you very much for your kind words.
If I have made even a little bit of contribution towards learning
that motivates me and also provides new learning for me as well.
As I am on the threshold of entering the sixth decade,
perhaps I may get more time to interact in Cite HR.
I will be happy to interact and increase the avenues of New Learnings.
V.Raghunathan..................................... ..................................... Navi Mumbai
From India
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