I'm intrigued by Barbara Ehrenreich's new book about how the positive thinking movement is actually quite a detriment to realistic thinking. It's true that when I had ovarian cancer my family wanted me to "think positively" all the time, as if by being worried and glum I'd caused the cancer to start and proliferate. Personally I think it's a popular movement, thinking positively, because no one wants the burden of listening to someone else's problems.
So that's my curmugeonly view on that subject. Bad things happen to everyone and they need support during those times, not someone telling them that their feelings are wrong.
Anyway. I'm going to my internship today, armed with two antidepressants, a mood stabilizer, an atypical or two, and the psychiatric know-how to turn my negative thinking aside with ease. I'm a marvel of the 21st century.
I've been wanting to read that book.
Posted by: elswhere | November 13, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I'm all into the positive thinking stuff but if someone were ill I could never imagine saying, with my hand raised, "ACK, do not speak of your illness." I mean people need to vent, they need sympathy and need to feel validated. Plus what they're going through is real. Doesn't mean one can't offer the advice "Visualize yourself getting well, trust that you are well." without it being dismissive. Sounds to me like the author just had a bad experience although her interviews about the book have been hilarious.
Posted by: Roodi | November 13, 2009 at 08:13 PM