The Positive Thinking Movement & Integrative Intelligence

By Laurel Elders, MCC, CEC

I remember my first introduction to the positive thinking movement. I was advised to monitor my thoughts and switch them to a more positive perspective. Instead of saying, "That sucked," I could say, "That was a challenge." 
 
While this was very helpful and felt empowering many times, there was a "negative" side to the movement that I couldn't ignore. 
 
I began seeing how my clients would override anything perceived as "negative" by swiftly placing a shiny spin on it. Rose-colored goggles, so to speak.
 
It also kept them from digging deeper into what was really going on for them. If we ignore a negative belief, it doesn't actually go away. It is only covered up for that moment and persists to flair up in the future.
 
One thing we can learn from integration is that we must include all aspects and not disavow parts of ourselves if we are to integrate and actualize. In other words, there is no true "negative"; it all serves.
 
I had also observed in my clients and in myself how one false underlying belief could generate hundreds of energy-draining thoughts. The egoic mind would spin a web of stories, generating hundreds of ruminating thoughts around just one belief. Yet, once the root belief was shifted, the racing mind calmed. 
 
I witnessed first-hand how coaching to the root cause invited a deep integration of inner peace by virtue of shedding the untrue. The mind calmed down, the ego quieted, and an inner confidence followed. 
 
This makes sense. Solid confidence naturally follows the discovery of our wholeness. Sadly, Our wholeness gets covered up by the web of stories the ego crafts as defense mechanisms to keep us emotionally safe in the world surrounding us.
 
Dispelling false ego stories doesn't just clear the mind. It also clears the path for new growth and potential to surface. The limiting stories, ego defenses, and false beliefs all act like weeds choking out the fertile ground for self-actualization to take root. This shedding of the untrue clears the ground and fertilizes the soil for our growth to take root.
 
How can we include all aspects of the whole while empowering the positive? 
 
The difference is that when we use the "negative" to inform the positive, we expand the scope and landscape of our awareness. And the positive is causative. 
 
When positive thinking is used to cover up illusions, limiting beliefs, and triggers, it is time to pause and consider the following.
 
Consider the word "negative". It is an absence of something. It represents something lacking. This is an important detail. There is a reason we experience "negative" emotions. They indicate to us that something is missing. If we ignore the gas gauge telling us the gas is low, we fail to see we need more gas. To locate the missing ingredient, we must look at what stimulated our "negative" response within us so that we can bridge to the positive. 
 
For example, I wasn't invited to a gathering, but a friend of mine was. I was feeling sad, confused, and hurt. I could put a positive spin on it like "They are the ones missing out.". Or, I could go deeper. Going deeper, I recognized that inclusion, understanding, and community were the missing ingredients for me. 
 
I reached out to my friend to gain understanding. I learned that I hadn't been invited because the host heard I was busy that weekend, which was true. My peace was restored. That issue felt complete. 
 
Had I attempted to disavow the "negative" emotional response, I wouldn't have experienced true completion.
 
One of my favorite spiritual teachings rests within Sufi wisdom. The sentiment is that fear is half of a message. It tells us what we don't want by illuminating what is missing. The heart has the other half of the message, illuminating a deeper truth and reflecting what we truly value and love. In the case above, it was understanding and inclusion.
 
I completely understand why the positive thinking movement was generated. We should not idolize fear or be seduced by its compelling messages. Those are legitimate concerns that lead to massive limitations to our potential. It makes sense. 
 
There are also legitimate times when we need to override the ego message to push through a hard time. That is valid and very real.
 
The positive thinking movement has come with very positive and genuine messages: We can take charge of our thinking. We can replace negative thoughts, beliefs, habits, and inner motives with positive ones. We can shift our brain chemistry, somatic responses, and reactions for the better.
 
These are the gifts of the movement. Yet, the movement can become a liability if we take it too far and start to disavow the "negative." 
 
In Conclusion:
 
Ignoring or brushing aside fears, defenses, and limiting beliefs doesn't dispel them. It represses them. To dispel a limit, we must give the message a seat at the table, thank it for its place, and move closer to the message. We stay stuck when we cover up. We become self-empowered when we become self-inclusive. 
 
Embracing every facet of our human experience, encompassing the "positive," the "negative," and the "messy," lies at the core of nurturing our Integrative Intelligence. We get to form the essence of our progress and self-actualization.

---