A big thanks to @creativemary for the intiative.
The Power of Positive Thinking
The Power of Positive Thinking Is a book by Dr. Norman Vincent Pearl. He is popularly known as the father of positive thinking. Although he is a clergyman, his book is widely read by all. He was born on May 31, 1898, and died on December 24, 1993. However, his work lives on forever.
The first thing I’ll tell you is that you can’t read this book and still be the same person. Trust me, aside from other things, this book is one of the best resources God used to get me where I am today. There are practical examples that actually manifested in my life, as promised in the book. The book title should give you an idea of what to expect. The book discussed in detail the mystery that lies in maintaining a positive mindset no matter what is going on.
The book is divided into seventeen chapters, plus an introduction and an epilogue. For easy access, you can check out an online copy here. Each chapter has a strong topic that can independently communicate a message and give an idea of what is in stock as one reads further.
Chapter 1
This chapter talks about self-trust and, with the use of illustrations, gives us reasons never to give up by highlighting the possible assets and other resources we can utilize and hold on to for our ultimate success. The chapter also states some affirmative words we can constantly chant to attract our desired goals. At the end of this chapter, there are 10 actionable recommendations to ensure we maintain a healthy and confident personality.
Chapter 2
This section is about the importance of maintaining a peaceful mindset to ensure a trouble-free experience on a daily basis. The chapter opened with a scenario where someone who had “an ear full of trouble” by listening to some disturbing news didn’t sleep well at night while another person who slept in the same hotel had a good night’s sleep because he kept to his “go to sleep plan.” This plan simply consists of positive ideas, primarily made up of Bible verses he got from his father. The power of prayer, coupled with the energy of a peaceful mind, can result in tremendously desired results.
Chapter 3
This chapter gives a clue on how to keep your positive energy constant. The Bible is showcased here as a good source of renewable energy for our minds. This section reemphasizes the importance of positive energy, stating that it is not only available to young people but also to old ones. Harnessing positive energy through Bible recitation and meditation can result in developing an incredibly powerful mindset that is unstoppable as regards achievements.
Chapter 4
Chapter 4 suggests that even if nothing is working, we should try connecting with the higher power, the power of prayer. When nothing is working and everything seems impossible, especially in this very funny world, we can take some time to converse with our maker. At the end of this episode, there are suggestions on steps you can take to ensure a more effective prayer life.
Chapter 5
This part talks about you having control over your happiness because you don’t have to place the responsibility of being happy on any other person but yourself! Several beautiful and practical examples were utilized in this section, just like they were in other sections.
Chapter 6
This section encourages us to stop making life unnecessarily difficult for ourselves by fuming and fretting. The chapter gives practical steps to follow to reduce fretting and fuming. It was also rounded off with six different suggestions on how to minimize or even stop worrying.
Chapter 7
This part focuses on setting positive goals or expectations and having the right mindset to achieve them. There are some excellent examples here and principles to inculcate, with evidence of positive effects on the lives of those who followed the patterns.
Chapter 8
This section urges us to have a "can-do" attitude and mindset and to always shun all thoughts of defeat. It also encourages us to recite the words of God with boldness, faith, and confidence. There is no problem greater than you if you can always refer it to your maker.
Chapter 9
This chapter encourages breaking the worry habit by analyzing what worrying entails and how to deal with it. The passage opened with a strong statement: “YOU DO NOT need to be a victim of worry.” It ended with a worry-breaking formula consisting of ten good points.
Chapter 10
Here we receive access to the plan and practical recommendations on how to get the power to solve our personal problems. This passage also ended with techniques we can emulate in order to effectively deal with our personal problems.
Chapter 11
This section discusses the relevance of faith in healing and how to effectively apply our faith to get our desired results. It also ended with eight practical steps you can take to help anyone who is sick around you attain their healing speedily.
Chapter 12
When your energy drops, when anger sets in and is draining your vitality, there are some health formulas you can try out. This chapter gave those alternatives and ended with 12 points to consider.
Chapter 13
Allowing new positive thoughts can have some positive effects on our lives. This chapter emphasizes the power to change our lives with the kind of thoughts we entertain and ends with 7 steps we can follow to change our mental attitudes from negative to positive.
Chapter 14
This section explains how to gain access to easy power and relaxation. It is one of the short chapters of the book, and it ends with seven practical steps to follow.
Chapter 15
This part talks about how to get people to like us. As hard as this topic may sound, this passage simplifies the concept with examples and steps to follow.
Chapter 16
This part gives a prescription for peace of mind. It gives some practical examples on how to achieve a peaceful state of mind and get away from common heartache or discomfort common in the present age.
Chapter 17
The last chapter concludes with a spiritual perspective on how to get more from the higher power—God's power! It unravels the mystery behind getting things done by God’s strength rather than by straining ourselves or trying to achieve things via our personal efforts alone.
Conclusion
This book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in experiencing a paradigm shift from a negative perspective to a positive and productive one. I again repeat that this book changed my life perspective on a lot of things. It has a way of making you create your desired future, preparing you for what is to come, and equipping you with the needed knowledge for your journey to success.