Positive thinking works. Or does it?

The concept around positive thinking is that through being positive, your life will then have a positive impact. There are reasons people tell you to do this, mostly because it can work. I say "can," because in order for this to work, you actually have to believe in it.

It's simple; when encountering situations, you have a choice to how you will respond—not react—and that choice is when you can decide to be positive. Although you can pick the other option.

For example: You are having a bad day and your best friend has exciting news. You can either: A. roll your eyes and explain why you don't care today because your day wasn't as great or B. Congratulate them and let your friend have their moment, and for a second maybe even share in their joy, potentially making you feel better.

When I write it out, it seems obvious, doesn't it? But, commonly, people don't make the better choice.

In an experiment with water crystals, Dr. Emoto tested thoughts on water. He did this by writing the thought on the water and taking photos of the crystals and how they changed.

Here is a brief clip from the movie "What the Bleep Do We Know?" that explains the process.

As it brings up in the video, if water can change that easily with thoughts* and our body is mostly water, then what do our thoughts physically do to our body?

Thoughts from ourselves that we repeat are the most harmful and the most beneficial. So when people wake up in the morning and tell themselves they look beautiful, that's why it works, even if it seems silly.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have people think of me as silly or unconventional if it means that I am happier. Honestly, if the worst thing about me is that I don't fit in what you think I should fit in, then I am doing something right.

In my family, the idea of positive thinking is highly prevalent, but it is also paired with action. Action is key to change, so if you want a great job, you should amp yourself up. But you should also update your resume, go out, apply, and present your best self in interviews.

It is really not as complicated or as weird as people might think it is. All it really is, at its core, is paying attention to what you think and what you say and what you do.

I know, I know. That's a lot of micromanaging yourself.

But it's actually not. When you get in the habit, it becomes second nature to pick the positive option over the negative one. It is all about retraining yourself to accept the good in the world instead of only seeing the bad.

*Water is easily changed regardless of the experiments as well. Which, while can make the experiment less effective, also proves how easily we are changed when temperature and surroundings change.