Self-help makes you feel worse
Seems that positive thinking is phooey.
Bridget Jones is not alone in turning to self-help mantras to boost her spirits, but a study warns they may have the opposite effect.Canadian researchers found those with low self-esteem actually felt worse after repeating positive statements about themselves.
And, rather like many diet products, only works when used in conjunction with help that actually does the real work of helping people.
Joanne Wood , leading the research team from University of Waterloo and the University of New Brunswick, said,
However, they say positive thinking can help when it is part of a broader programme of therapy.
What’s more, some people actually feel better after recording their negative thoughts.
The psychologists then asked the study participants to list negative and positive thoughts about themselves.
They found that, paradoxically, those with low self-esteem were in a better mood when they were allowed to have negative thoughts than when they were asked to focus exclusively on affirmative thoughts.
So, expect the new self help book “The Power of Negative Thinking” any day soon.
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