Opposition Thinking

“If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right." - Jerry Seinfeld

This is from one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes. Jerry convinces George Costanza to do the opposite of what he normally does since George feels that everything he has ever done has been wrong and that his life is the exact opposite now of what it should be. Of course, after George makes this new approach a habit, wonderful things start happening in his life.

Sometimes we might all feel like George once in a while in that nothing seems to go our way. While I think Jerry and George were onto something with their "opposite" strategy, it probably is not very sensible outside of the world of sitcoms. However, while opposition doing may not work in reality, opposition thinking does.

Opposition thinking is a tool to help individuals develop a more positive, optimistic mindset. It works like this; every time you have a negative thought, consciously make a decision to change it to a positive thought. Why? Negative thoughts produce negative outcomes. Have you ever heard of the law of attraction? If not, read a book called "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. Have you ever tried to drive a car straight ahead while looking sideways? Trust me, I have and it's very difficult. You get what you focus on. Focus on the road ahead while you are driving, and most likely you will safely arrive at your destination. Focus on learning to play a musical instrument and soon you will be making music. Focus on positive thinking, and soon you will feel positive, optimistic, confident, strong and courageous. Let negative thoughts occupy your consciousness and you will surely go in the opposite direction in life relative to those who have a positive mindset.

Here's a personal example. I have been unemployed for over three months now. My severance just ran out and I still have no solid prospects for a new career. The national economy is in the toilet and I live in the Portland Maine area, a small city with limited career opportunities. And I do not want to relocate. A negative thought that has tried to occupy my mind on more than one occasion is; "This sucks. I'm now starting to have to use my hard earned savings in order to just pay the bills. I can't go out to dinner any more. I can't afford to send my kid to that great boarding soccer camp program that she has been so looking forward to. Blay, blah, blah..." Instead of indulging that kind of thinking (which I hope you recognize as very unproductive), I stop myself and change my thoughts to something like this; "I know that this is just a temporary situation and that something very good is going to come from it. I really feel I will find an opportunity eventually to do something that will be challenging and rewarding in ways that my previous career may not have been able to offord me. I am so greatful that I have supportive friends and a wonderful family." Carrying around positive thoughts like the one above manifests itself into how you present yourself to others and how others perceive you. Would you rather hire the guys walking around saying "this sucks" or the guy saying "I am so greatful"?

"I am a positive, optimistic person. Every time a negative thought enters my consciousness, I exchange that thought for a positive thought." Make this a daily affirmation and you will experience a tremendous shift in your personal power and level of wellness that will transform your life.