A Matter of Principle: The power of positive thinking

By QAROL PRICE

Would you rather be psyched out or psyched up? Either way, they are both styles of self-talk.

Self-talk programs us to believe and act on whatever content we play over and over in our heads. You psych yourself out when you declare that you are bad at math, for instance, and so proceed to fail since you decided to believe there is no use in trying.

Your own thoughts brought about the (negative) self-fulfilling prophecy. You give up even before much effort is applied.

On the other hand, to psych yourself up is the kind of self-talk that arouses good feelings, drive and meaning. If we hold affirmative thoughts in our head, we stoke up the willingness to keep striving for that goal, to persevere despite obstacles, opposition or setbacks.

Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) was, among many other things, a pioneering medical missionary.

He decided to bring modern medicine to French Equatorial Аfrica. First, he had to undertake medical training, seven long years of it! This was a pretty daunting prospect!

He did some soul-searching: “Should I give up? Do something easier?” But then he psyched himself up by thinking of the Carthaginian general Hannibal. He had to somehow get a bunch of elephants (the Sherman Tanks of the ancient world) over the Alps to attack Rome from the north.

Schweitzer asked himself, “What if Hannibal had decided it was too difficult, turned around and went home?” But of course, he did not, and he got those pachyderms over the mountains! Dr. Schweitzer figured, “If Hannibal could pull that one off, I can get that M.D. degree!” And he did!

I love this! Schweitzer was inspired to persevere because of the example he found in the story of Hannibal — and now the story of Schweitzer’s inspiration can inspire us to persevere amid our own challenges, be they large or small! And there are many such stories all around us.

How about the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare? The overconfident hare, thinking he couldn’t possibly lose the race, psyched himself out, thinking he could afford to take a mid-race nap!

Meanwhile, the persistent tortoise plodded himself to final victory. He persevered against all odds because he knew he could beat ‘em if he stuck it out!

Remember the Little Engine That Could? This little guy had a schedule to keep, but he would have to navigate a high hill to reach his destination. It was a daunting prospect, to be sure! And he did it!

How? He persevered by psyching himself up, chanting “I think I can! I think I can!”

With every exhausting effort he would figure he at least ought to be able to go a little bit farther, then a little bit more, until finally he reached the goal.

In conclusion, the power of positive thoughts and inspiring stories can be the inexhaustible fuel that sustains our perseverance, propelling us forward on the path to achieving our goals and overcoming life’s greatest challenges.

Next Month: Responsibility

Qarol Price is a writer and educator. She has taught philosophy to children in Johnston County Public Schools and in Harlem in New York. She is a resident of Selma.