The other night, a friend asked me what I think of the power of positive thinking.
Normally, this question is very polarizing for me. I associate the Law of Attraction—as it’s called in California parlance—with the asinine self-help book The Secret and inane ¡positivity! and people who believe that by merely thinking about something, one can make it happen, sort of like a disturbed protagonist in a Stephen King novel.
But when asked about the Law of Attraction the other night, I felt open-minded. Probably because of the person asking the question and his complete lack of a bossy agenda.
The truth is, I do not believe one can control one’s destiny with positive thinking. I don’t believe that squeezing out all negative thoughts and emotions is productive, healthy or, frankly, sane. I am a half-assed Buddhist: I believe in accepting life just as it is.
But, to be fair, I also believe in this timeless quote by William Hutchison Murray. I believe in it in the way that I believe in following one’s heart, and one’s gut, and throwing oneself into something even if it is not logical or smart or bound to work, given all past experiences, just because one’s intuition says so. And when this happens—when one fully commits with heart and soul—I do believe that providence moves too.
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Begin it now.
