Power of positive thinking
Posted on March 14, 2007 - Filed Under Punch Forum |
Rafael L. Oriel, Jr.
14 Mar 2007
Pessimism, defeatism, cynicism, what’s the difference? They are all the same negativity that has a way of attaching itself to human minds like parasites or virus with devastating effect of draining health and abilities. These three negative ways of thinking and perceiving the world can take away creativity, persistence, and abilities to achieve goals. A simple way to outcast negativism is to warn those who don't have anything positive to say to just keep their mouths shut. Because the brain reacts more strongly to negative than to positive information, negativities work to undermine relationships, ruin sense of humor and destroy abilities to solve problems.
Fortunately, people had learned the power of positive thinking and are fighting back. They can no longer tolerate pessimism, defeatism and stagnation. Unfortunately, there are some standard bearers of defeatism and pessimism. They sow and preach pessimism knowing that defeatism stem from pessimism. They are just waiting for every opportunity to be able to say, “I told you so.” They totally do not care if the country and its people will sink to oblivion. In fact, there are some who will be very happy and will even do everything to make it possible.
We as Filipinos must do everything in all our power to save the country and its people. We should not allow pessimism, defeatism and cynicism rule our life. They never produce solutions and are contagious and destructive by way of shattering ideals and promoting demoralization and discouragement. We must totally refuse to accept their claim that "it can't be done." Filipinos in the country and around the world have the knowledge, experience and the weapons we need to fight the good fight in order to win the future.
It is a common knowledge that poverty, lawlessness, injustice and lack of education create breeding grounds not only for terrorism but also for insurgencies, including Muslim separatism and communism. These ugly scenarios are being used to entice recruits especially the poor, including university students, to what by this time should have been a declining movement. It does not mean that there are no beautiful and admirable scenarios in the country like the many children who are not begging in the streets, children who are not out of school, happy people full of smiles and laughter enjoying the company of their relatives and friends, gallant policemen and military soldiers risking their lives to serve and protect others, government officials who are working hard to serve the country and its people, politicians or exam takers who do not cheat, etc.
Also, we must bear in mind that some poor people also know how to be happy, contented and satisfied despite of their poverty and that rich people in spite of their prosperity are not immune from unhappiness, illnesses, tragedies, pain and sufferings. There are some rich people who are never satisfied and contented, they want more. There are also children from rich families who are separated from their parents, committed suicide, became lawbreakers and families with broken homes due to cheating, drug or gambling addictions including abusive and neglectful parents with no time to spare for their children.
I can go on and on but do you know what? These good and bad scenarios are global. It is also true in some other countries including those that are considered highly-developed. This is the reason why countries in the world are helping each other solve these global problems of poverty, homelessness, global warming, economy, terrorism, corruption, all forms of criminality, etc. I saw these common problems personally in countries that I had visited and I am always reminded of our beloved Philippines.
Sometimes, I wish I have the resources of those rich and famous who are just burning their money and/or wasting or throwing away good foods and other resources while other people in some parts of the world are starving or in dire need of help like those who were devastated by typhoon Reming and other calamities. Thanks to the flood of donations and help in kinds that are pouring in from generous foreign and local donors and benefactors. Instead of bickering, we must all help in making sure that all of these outpouring of generosity can reach the intended recipients.
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