The power of positive thinking to change and improve overall health and well-being is the focus of this portion of our web guide.
While he may not have started the movement, Norman Vincent Peale popularized it in 1952 with his self-help book, entitled The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living. As Peale had received bachelor's and master's degrees in theology and a Doctor of Divinity degree, and was a Methodist clergyman, he used a biblical approach while offering instructions designed to assist readers in viewing life from an optimistic perspective. Peale believed such techniques would help readers attain a better quality of life.
In his book, he stresses the importance of overcoming feelings of inadequacy, practicing faith, creating a peaceful mind, letting go of anger, and embracing a sense of calm.
While Peale's philosophy was criticized by mental health experts, theologians, and academics, it was widely popular with the general public. His book still sells well today, and his philosophy has spawned several adaptations. It has been translated into more than forty languages. If you were to do a search of a library database, on Amazon, or another bookseller, you would find several self-help books, workbooks, and therapy texts based on positive thinking.
In an article published on April 17, 2018, the Los Angeles Times estimated that "legions of followers testified that Peale's message changed their lives for the better and represented the best combination of faith and pragmatism." Three US presidents (Eisenhower, Nixon, and Trump) were known to have regarded his teachings on positive thinking highly. The Rev. Peale officiated Trump's first wedding.
Although he didn't achieve the same level of acclaim, Napoleon Hill introduced a similar concept in 1937 in his book Think and Grow Rich. Although his book focused more on financial achievement, it discussed the importance of positive thinking as a contributing factor to success in life.
As a means of fostering well-being, success, and a better life, the power of positive thinking is not limited to the philosophies of Peale and Hill.
Positive thinking is a significant component of most Life Coaching practices, as well.
As noted earlier, several philosophies, programs, therapies, and self-help strategies have been developed over the years, many of them utilizing elements that were earlier introduced by Napoleon Hill and the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale.
Recommended Resources
Benefits of Positive Thinking, The
Created by Cristina Diaz, the site highlights the benefits of positive thinking. It suggests various steps to be taken, including declaring today to be a new day, adopting a positive attitude, living in the present, the harm of negative thinking, the importance of adopting positive habits and steps, as well as the obstacles to positive thinking. Tools and techniques are offered, links to several resources are included, and contacts and advertising opportunities are posted.
https://www.the-benefits-of-positive-thinking.com/
Founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Ruth Stafford Peale, and Raymond Thornburg, Guideposts is a non-profit spiritual organization that publishes a magazine by that name, available as a bi-monthly print magazine and online, as well as other publications of various genres, largely with a Christian focus. Its website includes inspiring stories, and articles on positive living, prayer, and daily devotions. Its online shopping area includes its published works. Contacts are included.
https://guideposts.org/
Organized by Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale, the Foundation's goals are to support and encourage positive thinking and positive actions to make the world a better place. Headquartered in Pawling, New York, the Foundation continues the work of Dr. and Mrs. Peale. A sermon application featuring his sermons is available for Google Play and the Apple App Store, and links to where Dr. Peale's books may be purchased. Audiobooks are also available. Contributions may be made online.
https://www.pealefoundation.org/
Part of a network of websites owned and operated by Self Improvement Online, Self Growth provides self-improvement and natural health information, ranging from setting goals and stress management to natural health and alternative medicine. Readers are invited to submit articles for publication, and published articles are sorted by topic and arranged alphabetically. Information on becoming an expert and a database of published experts is included, along with web demographics.
https://www.selfgrowth.com/
Jon Peterson, the author of this website, is a doctor of chiropractic. On this site, he discusses the value of positive thinking as a means to happiness and success in life, relationships, and work. He provides practical tools and tips to help readers become more positive, resilient, confident, productive, and calm. Topics include building resilience in the face of adversity, coping with shifting dynamics in friendships, overcoming self-image distortion, and several others.
https://thinkpositivecheck.com/
Udemy: Positive Thinking Courses
Udemy is an educational technology company that hosts an online learning and teaching platform. Several online courses on the subject of positive thinking are offered. Currently, the featured course is "The Power of Positive Thinking: Re-Program Your Brain in 1 Hour," but several other courses are also available. Each course is described, including what you'll learn. The course content is listed for each, along with requirements, costs, and applicable guarantees.
https://www.udemy.com/topic/positive-thinking/
WebMD: What is Positive Thinking?
Published on WebMD, an online publisher of health information, on January 16, 2022, Alison Sherwood discusses positive thinking as the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation. The physical and mental benefits of optimism and positive thinking are listed, many of them confirmed by studies, which are also discussed here. Comparisons are made with the effects of negative thinking, ways that you can avoid them, and tips for practicing positive thinking are included.
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/positive-thinking-overview
