The cult of confidence: could positive thinking be making us feel less secure?

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The concept of ‘positive thinking’ is ubiquitous throughout society – from social media to home décor. What then, of adopting an approach grounded in negativity?

A new book aims to show why directives to "just be more confident!" are so harmful.

«It takes all the differences and empties them out of their meaning and appears that, say, being pregnant is as significant as being disabled.»

Why great things never came from comfort zones? Because the world is always changing. We need to face uncertainty to move forward.

«But what you’ll find out eventually. If, of course, you decide to stick with these scary routines. Is that life feels much more meaningful.»

“When I achieve this goal, then I will be happy.” We often mistakenly believe that achieving our goals will make us happy. That tendency is called the arrival fallacy.

«Although completing a goal may lead to the arrival fallacy, Dr Tal Ben-Shahar maintains that having objectives is essential to personal growth.»

Understanding and changing the environment in which habits form is a critical step when it comes to breaking unwanted behaviors and forming healthy ones.

«Instead, we concoct more compelling explanations, like saying we drink coffee to ease our morning fog.»