In response to a post on Norman Vincent Peale:
Norman Vincent Peale whom we read in our youth was a motivator, not a thinker. A proponent of positive thinking, he was able to sway thousands but he never had depth.
His thinking and standing have been over-estimated.
The same applies to the thinking of William Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill and many undistinguished others'.
The first positive thinking founders were Confucius and his most ardent discipline, Mencius. Re: THE ANALECTS of Confucius and THE BOOK OF MENCIUS.
They both upheld these thoughts:
human nature is inherently good; it can be perfected by self-cultivation which leads to 'ren' ( benevolence/ human-heartedness); this makes the 'superior man' (junzi) who excels in love, compassion, virtue,righteousness, decorum, altruism, selflessness, sincerity, loyalty, wisdom, filial piety, respect for elders and others, who serve as role-model for people and who is qualified to serve as ***** servant and contribute to the well-being of society and the nation. He seeks morality while the xiaoren (the inferior person) who seeks only profit or benefit.
It is evident from the above that such a philosophy is life-affirming and brings out the best postiof human goodness. This indisputably is the root of positive thinking long before modern thinking on the subject.
There is much merit in cognitive behavioural therapy founded by Alan Beck with Albert Ellis and Martin Seligman as exponents. CBT is based on positive psychology and its influence will continue ti grow in these days of stress, anxiety, depression and existential angst.
Bearing Confucian psychology on the subject enriches our understanding and also throws light on the similarity of Eastern and Western thinking in this regard.