The Power of Positive Thought

In the early 1950s when a book entitled ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ was published in America, elements of the scientific community rushed to discredit it and its author, Methodist minister Normal Vincent Peale. At the time, Peale was running a clinic with a respected psychiatrist Smiley Blanton and apparently even Blanton distanced himself from Peale’s work. Peale was criticised for promoting autosuggestion and self hypnosis.

Over the following decades, the scientific and medical communities began to seriously research just how much influence thought can have on an individual’s mental and physical health. Now, in drug trials, scientists expect to see what they themselves have labelled the ‘Placebo Effect’ in some subjects. They too have fallen victim to skeptics – with debate and further experiments suggesting that administering physicians and experimenters contribute to the Placebo Effect by believing in it, which I’m sure you’d agree is somewhat ironic!  Research on the power of thought continues and now even encompasses the power of prayer and faith.

Our thoughts are closely tied to our emotions.  This has not escaped scientists either, with the benefits of laughter having been researched by several groups with varying results. Browse the Internet and you’ll find that some sources credit laughter with the ability to heal, particularly when it comes to illnesses brought on by stress. There is some suggestion that laughter stimulates the immune system.

Exactly how thought and emotion influence our well being hasn’t been entirely proven to the satisfaction of scientists, but there seems little doubt that they can indeed have a significant impact.  Simple logic would suggest that if your thoughts towards yourself are positive you would feel better. Somehow, I think there’s much more to it than that – but not understanding the scientific ins and outs of my digestive system certainly doesn’t stop me believing that I have to eat.