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Good books for thinking positive?

post #1 of 19
1/13/10 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
Does anybody have any recommendations? I'm in therapy and realizing how negative/pessimistic I am/have been my WHOLE life and am wanting to change that.

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post #2 of 19
1/13/10 at 4:20pm
Mike Dooley's Notes from the Universe

Many more I cannot think of right now, but go to amazon.com and type in Positive Thinking.
post #3 of 19
1/14/10 at 6:10am
I found "Being Happy" by Andrew Matthews really good. Easy to read as well.

He also has a website that you should definitely check out: http://www.andrewmatthews.com/

The website has heaps of little tips that help alot. You can also get a free 7 day email thing that gives you one thing to work on a day.

I find him really great and motivating.
post #4 of 19
1/14/10 at 12:05pm
"Happiness is a Choice" by Barry Kaufman
post #5 of 19
1/14/10 at 4:15pm
DH has found a really helpful book to be "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life". It's by Dr. Amen (I forget his first name). It talks about automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and how to get rid of them.
post #6 of 19
1/14/10 at 4:32pm
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive.../dp/0449911470
http://www.amazon.com/Bright-sided-R.../dp/0805087494
take a look at these books;they are so good
post #7 of 19
1/18/10 at 11:12pm
I can definitely relate, I spent much of my life battling low grade depression, anger, and frustration.

This might be an odd suggestion, but I found Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication changed my emotional states more fundamentally than anything else I've tried.

It didn't teach me how to be happy, but how to empathize with myself and others. NVC believes (as do I) that underlying negative states such as anger, jealousy, and cynicism are unmet needs. NVC gives practical tools for recognizing and empathizing with those needs. When needs are met, or at least acknowledged even if they cannot be met, positive emotions- joy, contentment, hope result.

Baby is waking up. Must go.
post #8 of 19
1/19/10 at 7:56am
Need to check these books out!!
post #9 of 19
1/19/10 at 5:02pm

not books, but--

the movie "what the bleep do we know" (along the "you can change your life if you can change your mind" idea...)

do a treasure map with tracy (i think she posts in PG as well as spirituality? here's the link to the prep thread in spirituality)


TUTs emails in your in box! daily bits of positive thoughts!

there are a TON of things online... google "the law of attraction" and see what you find that floats your boat....
post #10 of 19
1/19/10 at 5:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2pinks View Post
Does anybody have any recommendations? I'm in therapy and realizing how negative/pessimistic I am/have been my WHOLE life and am wanting to change that.
I am exactly the same way and have been wanting to change that.

But here's the thing- I don't believe just thinking positive is healthy anymore than constantly thinking negatively is. I don't like the whole "think happy thoughts and all will be well!" movement of late. It hurts more than heals, IMO.

That said I am so flipping negative it is harming me and those around me. I have to say that I am not very into "self help" books and all that but I have to admit that Byron Katie and her book "Loving What Is" is AMAZING! What I love about Katie is she isn't about just smiling and thinking about butterflies and puppies and saying that will cure what ails ya, rather she is all about self-reflection and exploration. You can check out "The Work" here.

Basically what I am trying to say is I am trying to approach this less about thinking positively or negatively and more about thinking realistically.
post #11 of 19
1/19/10 at 6:19pm
Great info. More books to add to my wishlist!
post #12 of 19
1/20/10 at 3:27pm
I'd also like to suggest some Pema Chodron books. They focus less on "being positive" but more on staying with whatever feelings you have at any given moment, and learning how to ride through them. Being negative stems from fear, and learning how to sit with the fear and work through it rather than ducking it, hiding it or trying to make yourself feel better enables you be less afraid in general, and therefore more positive.

This is an extremely brief and not very good summary, but I have found her teachings to be very helpful! I especially love her audiobooks.
post #13 of 19
1/22/10 at 2:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by magstphil View Post
Basically what I am trying to say is I am trying to approach this less about thinking positively or negatively and more about thinking realistically.
that's great to find some way of phrasing it that helps you! i have to say, though... i "know" you from several places on mdc, and i've never thought of you as especially negative! i'm guessing now that a lot of my posts probably irk you, lol, so i apologize for that. i think finding a way (or ways) that resonates with you is so important (and if that includes fluffy bunnies, than that's ok, too. ).
post #14 of 19
1/22/10 at 8:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aweynsayl View Post
that's great to find some way of phrasing it that helps you! i have to say, though... i "know" you from several places on mdc, and i've never thought of you as especially negative! i'm guessing now that a lot of my posts probably irk you, lol, so i apologize for that. i think finding a way (or ways) that resonates with you is so important (and if that includes fluffy bunnies, than that's ok, too. ).
No, I totally agree. Whatever floats your boat and all that. And I have never known you to be irksome... Maybe I am reading the wrong threads!
post #15 of 19
1/22/10 at 9:20pm
no, no, whatever you're reading, that's all good.
post #16 of 19
1/23/10 at 2:33am
This isn't a 'self help' book, it's a novel, but it was SO inspirational to me regarding staying focused on goals and keeping a positive attitude.

The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay

It was made into a movie, but the movie was NOTHING like the book. NOTHING. So don't bother, it killed my positive attitude for about a week straight LOLOLOL
post #17 of 19
1/23/10 at 3:39pm
What a great thread
I personally find this book uplifting
http://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreement.../dp/1878424319
post #18 of 19
1/24/10 at 1:15am
I saw that movie (The Power of One) and from what I remember it was very depressing. I will have to check out the book, I didn't know that it was a book first.
post #19 of 19
1/24/10 at 1:36am
The movie was HORRID. Absolutely despicable. The BOOK, however, is a huge epic journey of self and really empowering. The whole 'take what life gives you and make the best of everything you can' kind of thing.

I've read it about 30 times, it's seriously the best book!

It's one of those books that when you read it you think WOW this would be a GREAT movie. Except, what makes it awesome is that it's a LOT of his thought processes and (mis)perceptions of the world around him, so that's impossible to accurately portray in a movie. Then of course the movie has to mesh all the characters and streamline the story so it fits in two hours. And this is NOT a two hour kind of book.

Ok I'm just going to have to go start a book thread on it I'll re read it if anyone else wants to discuss it?
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Personal Growth & Spirituality  › Personal Growth › Good books for thinking positive?