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In the past, you’ve probably bought and read at least one book on positive thinking and attempted to be more upbeat in life—and maybe you’ve purchased a lot more than just that one. Did any of them lead you to feel “up” all the time?
My journey of positive thinking began when I was 18 years old, and I believe I’ve read most of the available works in that field. But even after perusing so many of them, my negativity still persisted sometimes. I’d try to look on the bright side, but somehow I’d find myself feeling like a failure because I couldn’t make it work all the time. I’d be downbeat with my wife, kids, or employees; or I’d have an event occur where I’d find myself cursing. Something would happen, I’d get upset, and then I’d beat myself up because of it. Why am I not able to be continually positive? I wondered.
For many years, these books had me convinced that I could (and should) be optimistic, helpful, and enthusiastic at all times. But men I finally woke up and realized that it just wasn’t humanly possible. I wasn’t designed to be perpetually positive, and this was just another fantasy I’d bought into.
One day about 18 years ago, I was in a standing-room-only crowd at a Unity church listening to one of the male leaders of the positive-thinking movement. He stood up on the stage with his wife and said, “Well, you all probably know me as a leader in the field of positive thinking and mental attitude, but I must confess that I’m probably one of the most negative-thinking people you would ever meet.” His wife was nodding her head, as if to say, Oh, is that true! He sure has his negative side.
That experience awakened me, and I thought, I can be both positive and negative. I don’t have to live as a one-sided being. This great speaker went on to explain, “I wrote the books on positive thinking to keep me balanced because I’m so negative at times.”
Then I began to realize that as I’d come to know all my mentors more personally, I’d seen that they also had their less optimistic aspects. At that point, I set myself free from the false idea that I had to honor only one side of myself. If you find yourself having both sides (being nice and mean, positive and negative, pleasant and unpleasant), be assured that this polarity is perfectly normal and healthy. You’re not messed up—you’re gifted!
Embrace all of yourself, because you need both sides: Your humbling negativity brings you back into your true center, and your encouraging positivity moves you forward toward your life’s dream.
I remember when I first changed my teaching from all-positive thinking to a balanced and openhearted philosophy: 75 people walked out of the room saying, “We don’t want to hear that!” I was frightened and almost unwilling to keep sharing this law, because I was afraid of their reaction, but today I realize that this balance is the truth. Now I’m not worried about anyone walking out. They stay because they realize a new possibility in life: They don’t have to be someone they aren’t; they can be who they are with a balance of positive and negative thinking.
You can live this truth, too, so apply the Law of Polarity, embracing both sides of yourself and both sides of others. You’re magnificent!
WORDS OF POWER
I thank God for my balance of positive and negative traits, for both are centered in love.
I am a perfect balance of equally positive and negative traits, and I embrace myself.
The universe has a perfect balance of positive and negative, and I am one with the universe.
My heart opens as 1 see the benefits of my positive and negative sides.
I embrace my light and my shadow sides, for both help me love.
I am free to be who I am and to love myself as I am, and I love others as they are.
MY WORDS OF POWER
MY REFLECTIONS
How can I use the Law of Polarity today to fulfill my life’s
purpose, dreams, and objectives?
