Goal-Oriented Positive Thinking Trumps Pie-in-the-Sky Optimism

Positive phrases, such as “If you can dream it, you can do it,” can be detrimental to children and decrease their ability to meet their long-term goals. According to a recent article on MindShift, a website co-founded by NPR which covers current research on education and learning, "while inspiring words might provide a moment of motivation, it turns out they can have an adverse effect on achieving those goals."

Dr. Gabriele Oettingen, of New York University, reports that positive thinking is effective when rooted in reality and linked to problem solving. However, positive thinking has the risk of decreasing an individual's motivation if they don't focus on the actual actions required to meet their goal. Blind optimism, of the "Reach for the Stars" variety, can actual decrease an individual's motivation by giving them the false belief that they have already achieved their goal.

The "conscious adoption of a nuanced kind of optimism, one that takes into account the real-life barriers to success," however can be effective, according to Dr. Oettingen. Goal oriented positive thinking takes into account one's desired goal, the positive consequences that will arise from successfully meeting the goal, obstacle identification, and a focus on how to overcome the anticipated obstacles.

Dr. Oettingen teaches concrete self-talk skills aimed at developing effective positive thinking plans in her new book, Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation.  "Hope is a vital and necessary part of achievement, but that relentless pie-in-the-sky optimism detached from reality just hurts children." 

To learn more to read Why Understanding Obstacles is Essential to Achieving Goals on MindShift.