Comments on: Negative Self Talk for Writers: Polarized thinking

By: Positive Thinking

Positive Thinking — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:11:03 +0000

Walt Schafer's textbook "Stress Management for Wellness" it's a great book. Thank you. Positive Thinkings last blog post..Positive Affirmations - Create a Better Life

By: Oh, the Writer’s Life for Me… With Beer? Negative Self-Talk?

Oh, the Writer’s Life for Me… With Beer? Negative Self-Talk? — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:13:57 +0000

[...] Polarized Thinking [...]

By: Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:57:11 +0000

I see your point John and agree. My method only works where you hadn’t previously considered the worst case. If you have onsidered it and still can’t move forward, you need a different technique.

By: John Hewitt

John Hewitt — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:25:38 +0000

@ ABB

I find that happiness is an emotion that occurs independently of success and failure.

@ Terry

Very true

@ Contempo

… or healthy.

@ Ewan

I ran into someone yesterday who had convinced himself there was no way out of his dilemma. The solution seemed simple to me, but he could only think in all or nothing terms. His fear of the worst case was far too great to overcome.

By: Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:31:21 +0000

I tend to associate polarized thinking with the young who haven’t had their idealistic views of the world tempered by the reality of harsh experience. However, polarized thinking can be very useful in decision-making by forcing one to view things as black and white which drives out woolly thinking. I like the comment about considering the consequences. When faced with a tough decision, I always ask myself “what’s the worst that can happen?”. Once you’ve realised you can handle the worst outcome, you can forge ahead with boundless confidence.

By: Contempo

Contempo — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:21:19 +0000

This is good… polarized thinking is something we all should avoid because it’s not productive.

By: Terry Finley

Terry Finley — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:01:42 +0000

The best of us are often negative.
The worst of us are often good.

By: ABB

ABB — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:48:47 +0000

“Understand that no single accomplishment or failure is going to determine your future happiness.” Great advice, as ever John. Happiness is what you feel, when you reach a state of acceptance of things as they are, instead of a constant struggle to find it. – If anyone wants a mini accomplishment, pop over and join in my 100 word bookmark competition, just for fun.-

ABBs last blog post..What’s your story? Bookmark me, and win!