Surviving Negativity
in the New Year
The holidays are a
time of joyous celebration, but also lead many Americans
into the post-holiday doldrums. So-called experts
encourage us to adopt whatever strategies will enable
us to remain hopeful in the face of increasing negativity
and despair across the USA, especially along the
devastated Gulf Coast region. There are indications
that a nationwide sense of hopelessness could push
Americans toward dangerous levels of depression
not seen since 2001, when the country felt the unprecedented
aftereffects of the 9/11 tragedy.
This winter, costs of home heating fuel and gasoline
will skyrocket, as gloomy weather conspires to keep
us indoors and deprived of sunshine and exercise.
The holidays will be fun, but those credit card
bills from Christmas shopping sprees will arrive
just as we sit down to prepare our tax returns.
And after the year-end inventory sales, many business
sectors will experience slowdowns and initiate dreaded
layoffs.
But a newly published book of positive stories by
author David Pippenger, A Raft Around the Corner
and other stories to keep you going (Handcrafted
Media Press), may contain some timely inspiration.
As Pippenger explains, “When we keep working
after a negative outcome, we make a positive outcome
inevitable.”
American astronaut Jerry Linenger, who spent almost
five months aboard the Russian space station Mir,
read the book and thinks that Pippenger’s
stories are a wealth of positive brain food. “These
stories provide an example of how we can shift our
own lives to the positive, to thrive no matter what
the circumstance,” he says. Linenger used
a positive attitude to survive the ordeals he experienced
in outer space. “I traveled more than 50 million
miles. Many of those miles were difficult, dangerous,
and demanding,” he says. “The only way
to survive in such an isolated environment is to
keep a positive outlook.”
Scientists believe that as we observe a positive
role model or contemplate a positive perspective,
our brain creates networks or neurological maps
to help us follow that example of positive thinking
even when it is no longer present for us to observe.
Patients who undergo hypnosis therapy, for instance,
and have positive reinforcement messages embedded
in the subconscious mind, are better equipped to
control bad habits like smoking when temptation
arises.
The US military did extensive research with firearms
training, and found that mental preparation resulted
in a superior ability to hold a weapon correctly,
properly align the body in a shooting posture, control
breathing while aiming and firing, and hit intended
targets. New recruits with no firearms experience
were split into two groups. One group did not actually
handle any weapons, but instead spent a week watching
sharpshooters.
The other group went straight to the firing range.
The group that spent time observing expert marksmen
before going to the gun range scored significantly
higher. The results of the experiment showed that
soldiers were easier to train because they first
observed successful models. Many professional athletes
use similar techniques to help them train, by first
planning their game in the mind, where a winning
attitude can be encoded into the brain’s circuitry.
The mental edge also translates into a physical
advantage, as the brain develops new pathways. We
can actually increase measurable intelligence, by
embracing the positive practices of enhanced attitude
and outlook.
Dr. Arlene Taylor, a brain function specialist,
says that one of the easiest ways to accomplish
this style of learning is to put the lessons and
positive examples into story form. “Stories
form the basic fabric for intelligence,” she
says, “because they help determine how you
think and behave.” She adds that stories have
“elegant power”, and encourages people
to take advantage of the insights presented in Pippenger’s
book.
As Pippenger explains, “Don’t be optimistic.
Be positive. The gambler in Las Vegas is optimistic,
while the casino owner is positive. We have to learn
to give in to the positive. You cannot imagine all
the amazing things that are coming your way, as
long as you don’t give up.”
And that is excellent advice for every season of
the year.
For a review copy of the book or to set up an interview
with David Pippenger for a story, please contact
Jay Wilke at 727-443-7115, ext. 223 or at jayw@event-management.com.
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