Neil Francis, author of Positive Thinking: How to Create A World of Possibilities, claims that having a significant stroke was one of the most positive things that has ever happened to him and is a core inspiration for his new book; rethinking positive thinking for the 21st century.
Let’s start with a statement that might surprise you
Having a significant stroke at age 41 turned out to be one of the most positive things that has ever happened to me.
Now, this might be a very strange thing to admit, and I can only say it 13 years on from my stroke. But it really has. It has opened up so many possibilities that I can honestly say would not have occurred if I had not had the stroke.
But on 20 October 1996, when I was lying in the stroke ward of the hospital, unable to speak, with my memory in shreds and temporarily blinded in my right eye, it was the worst thing that had ever happened to my family and me. For well over three years, it was a very difficult and challenging time for everyone.
So how, you might ask, have I concluded that an event that was horrific initially has now become such a good thing in my life? This event and subsequent challenges have led me to finally understand the power of positive thinking and how to use it in my life. But this is a different type of positive thinking for the 21st century. And used in the right way, I have found it has created many new possibilities in my life. In this book, I am going to share what this type of positive thinking consists of.
Common positive thinking philosophies that have permeated Western society for the last 75 years claim that mere visualization is the key to succeeding and achieving anything that you want. And that the only things that stop you from achieving happiness, good health and wealth are your negative thoughts – and to succeed you must block or ignore them. This book will provide a different, better and more realistic understanding of positive thinking. But, before I describe the type of positive thinking that I am advocating, it will help to explore where the idea of thinking only positive thoughts and blanking out negative ones comes from, and why some of its core tenets are flawed.
About the book
Traditionally, the positive thinking philosophy advocates that you will achieve whatever you want purely by thinking positive thoughts. By rethinking the true meaning of positive thinking for the 21st century, Neil Francis explores different ways of creating new possibilities so that you make the right decisions to live a more balanced, meaningful and contented life.
About the author
Neil Francis is the author of The Entrepreneur’s Book and Changing Course. He is currently the chairman of a digital agency, director of one internet company, director of a consultancy practice and a trustee of a social enterprise.
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