Does Positive Thinking Really Influence Reality? A Jewish Perspective on Faith and Mind Power

If God decides everything, how can our thoughts make a difference? At first glance, it may seem contradictory — if everything is already determined by God, how can our own thoughts influence anything? In Jewish thought, the answer lies in understanding the unique role that human beings play in the divine blueprint of creation.

God created the world in a way that gives humans the power to influence reality. As Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin explains in his work Nefesh HaChaim, the verse “Hashem is your shadow at your right hand” (Psalms 121:5) suggests that God mirrors our actions. Just as a shadow moves according to the body it reflects, so too does God “move” the upper worlds in response to our thoughts and behaviors. This isn’t metaphorical poetry, but a spiritual law embedded in creation. God designed the universe so that human thought and will have cosmic consequences.

How does this work?

According to sacred Jewish teachings, God structured the world so that heavenly influence is awakened only through human initiative. If we believe good will come, if we cultivate faith and envision blessing, we actually create spiritual “channels” through which divine goodness can flow into our lives. In this sense, human beings are not passive recipients of fate, but active partners in shaping it.

The Talmudic principle “In the path a person wishes to go, they are led” is not just about free will, but spiritual causality. Our desires, thoughts, and beliefs lead the flow of spiritual energy from above. We will explore this idea further in the sections below.

What about when people believe strongly in something, but the opposite happens?

A fair question. If thought has such power, how do we explain disappointments, tragedies, or dashed hopes?

Consider the famous example of the Titanic. It was hailed as an "unsinkable" ship. Thousands believed in its invincibility and the world’s media praised it. Yet it sank on its maiden voyage. How could so much belief fail to change the outcome?

While thought is powerful, God is more powerful. Positive thinking is immensely powerful, but it is still subject to God’s will. God gives our thoughts the ability to shape reality, but only when aligned with His higher purpose. When human ego overshadows humility, that spiritual flow can be cut off.

In the case of the Titanic, the ship’s creators made the arrogant claim: “Not even God could sink this ship.” That very hubris, from a Jewish perspective, may have invited the tragedy as a divine demonstration that no human power overrides the Creator. When people believe in themselves without acknowledging God as the source of all power, the spiritual dynamic shifts, from blessing to blockage.

The right way to think positively: With humility and faith in God

True positive thinking isn’t just about visualizing success, but trusting in God's goodness while humbly acknowledging that only He controls outcomes. When we think positively in this way, we actually draw divine blessing.

As the Shomer Emunim writes, in his discourse on divine providence: we pray “Heal us, God, and we will be healed; save us and we will be saved.” Why the repetition? Isn’t it enough to say, “Heal us”? The answer is profound: healing or salvation without recognizing God as the source, is not complete. Only when we attribute all healing and salvation to Him do we receive true, lasting blessing.

Faith doesn’t create miracles — it opens the door for God to send them

We must be careful not to think that we “create” blessings. We attract them through faith and positive thinking, but only as vessels through which God chooses to act. Every success, every moment of healing or joy, is from Him. Humility is therefore crucial.

The Maharal of Prague once asked why Moses, the greatest of all prophets, had a speech impediment. His answer was so that no one would attribute Israel’s redemption from Egypt to Moses’ eloquence. It was to make it crystal clear that the miracle came from God, not from Moses’ charisma.

Doesn't this idea contradict “Actions shape the heart”?

Not at all. Judaism acknowledges two spiritual pathways:

1. The long but deep path – influencing reality through inner work like thought, faith, and belief.

2. The short but external path – using action to trigger internal change, like performing mitzvot (commandments) even when one doesn't yet feel inspired.

As Mesillat Yesharim (The Path of the Just) and Sefer HaChinuch teach, sometimes acting with energy or kindness can awaken those same feelings inside. For example, someone struggling with laziness can begin acting with zeal externally, and eventually, the inner desire will follow.

However, the ultimate and most sustainable transformation comes from within. Deep, positive change begins with conscious thought and belief. It's the longer route, but it lasts.

Thought is powerful when it's rooted in faith

The world isn’t a random machine, nor is it completely beyond our influence. God created us to be co-creators in shaping our lives. Our thoughts, when aligned with faith and humility, become tools that attract divine blessing.

Believe. Visualize good. Think positively. Above all, remember that all power comes from God. Once we think positively with faith, we open the gates for real miracles.