During a four-month intervention, three hundred and twenty-eight people from across the UK were invited to attend the 'Changing Minds' intervention programme. The programme was devised by Professor Robin Sharp and Jon Brewer (eds), who have both been leaders in positive thinking and personal development. During the four-month intervention, those invited received a 'telegram' - a text message delivered straight to their mobile phone - and a series of text messages and calls each day for twenty-four hours. The aim of these texts was to use the personal effects of the texts to explore the mind, challenge negative beliefs and replace those with more positive ones.
During this four month period, the participants were encouraged to record what they thought in each daily text message, and to reflect on those thoughts in order to improve their outlook on life. They were also encouraged to record daily affirmations, and to record what they did during the week to reinforce positive thinking. At the end of the intervention, they were asked to complete a five-minute questionnaire that explored how much they had changed, and if they had benefited more from the programme than they had previously. The questionnaire also explored how they related to the programme, their experiences with the interventions, and their feelings towards change.
What the results showed was that those who utilised the program to challenge negativity, and replace those with more positive mental attitude thoughts, experienced greater self-awareness, increased optimism, and a greater sense of achievement. Self-awareness and optimism are important ingredients in the change needed to achieve greater self-awareness and change. Those who experienced greater optimism and self-awareness also reported a better quality of relationships, greater financial security, and enhanced sense of well-being. While there was no difference between those who received a text message and those who were contacted by the telephone or postal services, those who participated in face-to-face positive thinking sessions were those who most needed the additional support.
Many people think that by reinforcing negative thinking patterns through text messaging, or through other technological means, we're not really helping them to develop positive thinking patterns. This is because, although technology may provide easy access to the thoughts and ideas of others, and easy access to information about the environment and human behaviour, it does not necessarily provide the context within which those thoughts and ideas can be articulated and acted upon. Negative thinking is not something that can be forced, nor is it an internalised habit, but something that can be challenged, and eventually changed, just like any other habit. By supporting negative thinking through technology, we're not really helping the person to change their negative thinking habits, but simply making it easier for them to do so.
A second myth is that a text message or internet-based attitude Towards Positive Thinking and Mindset training program should be limited to working with adults only. This is simply untrue, as this training program is suitable for use by young and old individuals, and involves the use of personal technology. The use of this technology in this manner allows for greater personal interaction and enables participants to apply their newly-acquired positive thinking and mindset skills in more socially-engaging environments. In addition, participants can develop more complicated and detailed attitudes towards the problems they face, as well as more accurate and greater self-awareness. It is therefore an excellent way to teach people how to think, as well as how to use technology in general.
A third myth is that attending a Thinking Out Loud thinking and attitude programme will remove the need for verbalisation or other visualisation techniques in the workplace. This is simply not true. It is probably best to leave verbalisation and visualisation techniques to the workplace, where they are already used to help workers deal with difficult situations and tasks. However, the Thinking Out Loud training program can be used in the home or anywhere there's a need to express opinions and to encourage participants to speak out and to combat workplace negativity. The same can be said for meditation and visualization techniques. They can also be used in the workplace, but using these methods requires a certain level of self-discipline, as they require one to deliberately bring about change, rather than react to it passively.
Another common myth is that negative thinking is an inherent part of human nature. This is simply not true. People come up with negative thoughts for a wide range of reasons - they may be frustrated, feeling under pressure, tired, lacking in self-confidence, etc. Positive thinking, by contrast, is not a given and must be encouraged within every group, as well as between team members. In order to get the most out of positive thinking and attitude training, it should be introduced into a workplace from the very first day and sustained through the entire workforce.
In addition to using technology in the workplace to create a positive mindset, it is also important to develop a positive mental attitude and mindset in everyday life. Simply spending time with positive thinkers is enough to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that everyone can benefit from being more positive. This is why so many people are seeking out businesses such as Positive Thinking Training to help them create a positive mental attitude and mindset. With this training, you can be on your way to a more productive and positive workday.
