Positive Thinking Can Propel Us Forward – How Do We Achieve It?

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In previous articles, we discussed how a positive attitude toward life events can move us forward, while a negative outlook can leave us stuck.

How can we actually change our mindset and start interpreting situations in a more positive way that helps us grow and reach our potential?

The first step is to stop jumping to conclusions!

We often make quick assumptions about what’s happening around us without really thinking it through. We don’t always take the time to pause, reflect, and properly examine the facts before deciding what something means. For example, if we show up late to an important meeting, we might instantly tell ourselves, “This meeting is doomed because it started off badly.”

But is that assumption really true? Not necessarily. Being late might have some impact on how the meeting goes—but instead of letting that negative thought take over, we could reframe it and say:
“Being late might affect the beginning of the meeting, but it doesn’t have to ruin the whole thing. The way I act during the rest of the meeting matters way more than the delay—I can still turn this around and make it a success.”

When we rush to interpret a situation, we often paint it in a much darker light than it deserves. If we can take a moment to step back and reassess with open eyes, we’ll often find that things aren’t nearly as bad as they first seemed.

Sometimes, a second look can completely change our perspective. Even if it doesn’t, simply rethinking things can help us tone down the negativity in how we interpret the situation.

We can also focus on not just removing the bad, but also trying to see the good. We can take something that initially feels frustrating or upsetting, and look at it through a more hopeful, optimistic lens.

In the example of someone arriving late to a meeting, that individual can use the situation to show maturity and responsibility—by owning up to the delay, offering a respectful apology, and handling the rest of the meeting with focus and professionalism. That kind of behavior can leave a positive impression, demonstrating courtesy, accountability, and remaining composed under pressure.

Positive Thinking Isn’t About Fooling Ourselves

If someone is late and convinces themselves, “It’s fine, they’ll totally understand, I don’t need to apologize,” that’s not being positive. That’s being delusional. Thinking everything will work out just because we want it to is not positive thinking—it’s wishful thinking, and that doesn't help anyone grow or improve.

There are pessimists, who always focus on the bad, and there are optimists who focus on the good. But we need to distinguish between optimism and naivete.

An optimist sees the bad—but believes the good overcome it, and that they have the ability to handle things. A naive person doesn’t see the bad at all—and that leaves them unprepared.

Picture someone blindly running across a busy street with their eyes closed. You ask, “How are you doing?” and they say, “Great!”
You tell them, “Aren’t you worried about getting hit by a car?” and they reply, “Stop being so negative! Think positive!”

Is that person thinking positively? Not at all. They're not thinking at all.

Likewise, someone who continues facing challenges and simply repeats “Everything will be fine” without making any effort to improve things, isn’t being positive—they’re living in denial. Without action, there’s no reason to believe anything will change.

True positive thinking means believing that our actions can make a difference—and then actually doing something about it.

Learn From Experience—Don’t Escape It

False positivity doesn’t only hold us back—it also robs us of the chance to learn and grow.

Consider someone who gets fired from many jobs. He tells himself, “It’s fine, something better will come along,” and maybe it does. But if they never stop to ask, why do I keep losing jobs? What could I do differently?—then they’re not being optimistic. They’re just stuck in a cycle, blind to their own role in it.

From the outside, this may look like impressive optimism—but in reality, it’s just avoidance. They’re missing opportunities to reflect, improve, and truly move forward.

Positive Thinking -Taking Responsibility

True positive thinking doesn’t leave you stuck—it pushes you forward. It helps you take ownership of your life and believe in your power to create change.

Positive thinking says: “Things can get better—if I do something to make them better.” In contrast, passive thinking sounds like: “It’s all in G-d’s hands, everything happens for a reason” and is often used as a way to avoid responsibility. Yes, it’s true that we’re not in control of everything—but that doesn’t mean we’re not responsible for anything.

Even when we believe everything comes from a higher power, we’re still expected to act. To think, reflect, improve, and grow. That’s the true partnership between faith and action.

There’s Always Something You Can Do

At the core of positive thinking is the belief: In nearly every situation, there’s something we can do to make things better.

For example, let’s say a young person applies for a job and tells themselves, “There’s no way I’ll get it—I’m too young, I don’t have experience.” If they walk into an interview with that attitude, they probably won’t get the job.

But if that same person takes a positive approach, they won’t ignore the facts—they’ll acknowledge them, but they’ll also look for the unique strengths their situation gives them.

They might think: “Sure, I’m young and I don’t have much experience, but I’m full of energy, flexible with salary, and available to work long hours. I’m also quick to learn and open to feedback.”

Now, contrast that with an older person who might think, “I’m too old, I need a higher salary, I won’t get hired.” But positive thinking would help them focus on what they bring to the table: experience, maturity, good judgment, and a strong work ethic.

In both cases, the facts don’t change. But the interpretation does. That’s the power of real, grounded positive thinking—not ignoring reality, but working with it in a way that empowers us to grow.