The secrets of positive people...hmmm

"You can complain because roses have thorns. Or you can rejoice that thorns have roses." - Ziggy

Maybe its because I'm writing about topics, maybe its because I'm actually changing, maybe it's just because I was bored, but it seems like things connect more now on completely different levels. Strange coincidences that normally I wouldn't of paid attention to. Kind of like the Seven Degrees of *insert fave celeb here*. My last blog was about responsibility. This blog is about accepting that responsibility, and balancing it out with positive thinking. And yesterday, reading thru my newest Self mag, there was an article about the dangers, and benefits, of self help gurus.

The article in the magazine was about a woman - active, happy, healthy, but searching for more - who read a book that introduced her to a guru who captured her attention. Several thousand dollars later, she followed like a blind sheep and died inside a sweat hut that was over crowded and too hot. Of the thirty some odd people inside, another one died, and several had to be rushed to the hospital. All these people swallowed hook, line, sinker, the words this man weaved, and let the power of what could, override the power of common sense.

It was a strange wake up call, knowing that even if you're able to check off all the socially accepted "happiness markers," you could still be miserable. That its always a struggle, always that want for more. Where do you draw the line? At what point are you able to say, "Okay, I'm happy?" One of the new...fads? trends? thought processes?...of the self help industry is if you want something, you have to see yourself having it, envision it occurring, and it'll happen. So...you want bigger boobs. So you see yourself having them, you want them, you demand them, and it'll happen. If it doesn't happen? Well then, clearly, you failed. Its your own fault your boobs didn't get bigger, because you didn't want them badly enough. Or at least, that's what the self help gurus want you to believe.

The explanation for today's blog topic went something along the lines of positive people are happier because they keep a more balanced outlook on life. They know that where there's bad, there's good. They take responsibility for the choices in their lives, and view them thru a positive spin: "yeah, okay, that decision may not of been the smartest in the world, but my next one will be," kinda deal.

I'm all for positive thinking, and I tend to side with the half glass full crowd, but there's a limit to my effusiveness. At some point, you have to accept that things are going badly, and you need to trudge through them. All the positive thinking in the world isn't going to make that situation any easier. And I'm not all that sure I believe taking responsibility for your actions/choices means being positive about the things in your life. You fuck up, you deal with the repercussions. You learn, and then you grow. Which, I suppose, is positive in at least some aspect. Maybe that's the true lesson out of all the odd...match ups. It IS about balance, but sometimes it comes in such a subtle way, it's hard to see it.

For some reason, I'm having a really hard time with this particular topic. I'm all confused, my thoughts aren't making any sense. This whole blog probably doesn't make any sense. Eh...