Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside The New Sc... -

In psychologist Gabriele Oettingen challenges the widely held belief that positive visualization is the key to success. Drawing on over 20 years of research, she demonstrates that "starry-eyed" dreaming can actually sap the energy needed to achieve goals. The Central Argument: The Trap of Pure Positivity

: Oettingen cites studies showing that people who fantasized most about weight loss or finding a job actually lost less weight and received fewer job offers than those with more realistic outlooks. The Solution: Mental Contrasting Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Sc...

The book's foundational claim is that when we vividly imagine reaching a goal, our brains can't easily distinguish the fantasy from reality. which often leads to complacency.

: Fantasizing about success can lower systolic blood pressure, tricking the body into a state of relaxation and lethargy rather than the high-energy "fight" mode needed for action. Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Sc...

: By "mentally experiencing" the reward, we get the emotional payoff before doing the work, which often leads to complacency.