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Positive Mental Attitude

• Posted by Theresa on August 31st, 2006 filed in Believe It or Not

SHAMblog author Steve Salerno has a few words to say about Positive Mental Attitude and Hurricane(?) Ernesto. Direct from Florida while awaiting the arrival of Ernesto:

As part of the wall-to-wall coverage of non-Hurricane Ernesto, we’ve also been treated to our share of person-in-the-street interviews. I was struck in particular by these words of wisdom from one shopkeeper: “The important thing is to keep a positive attitude.” Meanwhile, clearly visible in the background were the windows of his store, which had not yet been boarded up.

Inasmuch as the hurricane, if it comes, won’t give a rat’s you-know-what about anyone’s attitude–Ernesto is gonna do whatever it does or doesn’t do, regardless of whether Floridians maintain a happy face throughout–I’d say that that guy’s time is best spent taking out a hammer and some nails and boarding up his damn windows, rather than honing his upbeat mindset. But see, this is what a few generations of positive thinking have done to us…teaching us that somehow attitude trumps action, or is at least equally important.

He then goes on to say:

My real point is that many of us today have been conditioned to fall back on PMA the way we used to (and still do) fall back on prayer–as if positive attitude alone can change the course of our lives (or the course of a hurricane, in this case). I’ll grant you that yes, at some point this shopkeeper is going to get around to protecting his windows. But what else is he entrusting to attitude that–just maybe–he could take an active hand in achieving? How much energy is going into “hope” that could instead go into something more functional? Widening the lens a bit, how many of us are inclined to put our faith in someone with a “good attitude” when maybe what we really need is a more competent person who just happens to have a bad attitude? I think they’re valid questions.

I remember when I was a Christian and my non-believer step-mother said she would send “positive thoughts” my way (for something - I don’t remember what) and I thought, “How ludicrous. Why even bother?” Although I did appreciate her concern, I was sure her positive thoughts would have no effect. Now I am sure her genuine Christian prayers wouldn’t have worked any better.

Here is an example that happened just recently where all of the positive mental attitude, trust in God, and prayer didn’t work. From The Daily Record - Miracle Is Sunk:

A PRIEST has died after trying to demonstrate how Jesus walked on water.

Evangelist preacher Franck Kabele, 35, told his congregation he could repeat the biblical miracle.

But he drowned after walking out to sea from a beach in the capital Libreville in Gabon, west Africa.

One eyewitness said: “He told churchgoers he’d had a revelation that if he had enough faith, he could walk on water like Jesus.

“He took his congregation to the beach saying he would walk across the Komo estuary, which takes 20 minutes by boat.

“He walked into the water, which soon passed over his head and he never came back.”

What do you think? Do you think prayer and/or positive mental attitude can change the course of your life? If so, or if not, give us some examples.

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