Dr. Norman Vincent Peale published a book called The Power of Positive Thinking in 1950, in response to the massive unemployment created by World War II in the American economy. His book represents one of the greatest uses of faith to motivate us to believe in ourselves, have determination, and accomplish our goals through the power of positive thinking. The book draws from existing sources and accounts of experiences recorded by many people throughout the United States during this time period. Peale provided hope to many individuals who struggled to cope with their loss of confidence during and after the war, as they faced numerous new challenges and experiences on a daily basis. He offered a realistic goal to individuals who were struggling to achieve their objectives. After this success, positive thinking became ubiquitous across all walks of life.
What has been retained through time is the clarity of conviction versus sophistication of thought. Peale writes as if he were a therapist who had rare faith in the ability of humans to begin again, and his writing exudes this firm, encouraging, and incredibly practical tone. He offers a solid foundation of practical methods for cultivating an optimistic mindset, including creating positive visualizations, believing in oneself, speaking affirmations, and training oneself to adopt an optimistic perspective on life. Peale’s revolutionary book at that time is still relevant to our lives today because of this distinctive combination of conviction and methods.
One of the book’s features is its firm stance that confidence is not innate. Rather, Peale sees confidence as an ability that can be developed over time. This concept alone is the reason why this book has remained popular for so many years. It speaks to students, people working at a job, executives, or anyone who has been anxious in their life and has questioned their worthiness to accomplish something they desire. The core message of the book is that everyone can learn how to be strong and to have courage and to change one’s mind.
Another significant feature about this book is that it brings both psychology and spirituality together and doesn’t create a gap between the two. Peale used to be a pastor at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City, so his approach to his subject matter has a very pastoral flavor, yet the advice he shares seems very modern applicable for individuals of any religon. He writes that beliefs influence actions, and actions affect results. This insight has allowed the book to reach far beyond the church and enter the areas of business, education, and personal growth.
Nonetheless, there are some areas that may be considered limitations of this book. It is possible that a reader will view the overwhelming optimism expressed throughout the text as downplaying the intricate nature of oppression, trauma, and structural poverty; however, this criticism has no bearing on the overall value of The Power of Positive Thinking. The author’s intended purpose is not to deny adversity, but rather, to have a positive attitude is the key for you. Kindness breeds kindness. A person develops character based on his/her perception of his/her environment, and that perception will dictate who that person ultimately is. We will examine how our positive attitude is going to impact our behaviors and develop the expectations that lead us to destiny. This book will help you feel good about yourself and show you how to create the life you want.
According to author Norman Vincent Peale, the same will also be true 70 years after the first publication of this book, as long as you make the commitment to positively think about what you want to accomplish in this life.
