The difference between Positive Thinking and Positive Being

This seems to be coming up a lot lately in my life: people asking me what I thought of The Secret (odd timing since its been out for years), or talking about how to get things in life, or how I feel about what's going on in the economy, world, etc. Which all culminated in an amazing thought provoking conversation with my Dad, one of the most masterful people with this topic that I'm close to.

We talked about a lot of stuff, and I have a feeling that I'll be talking about each topic in turn, as it bubbles to the surface of my brain and I'm forced to process it and chew on the ideas like, um, mental cud. Ew.

Anyway, the question that seems to come up from the outside universe is how do I handle difficult times and still seem happy? (most of the time, anyway) Recently, I've tried to explain it using an expanded (and convoluted) theory of positive thinking. The trouble is that no one is ever able to understand me. I've internalized the process so much, I have real trouble explaining it. But, I've had a revelation about how I frame things in my mind, and how I live. I don't practice Positive Thinking. I practice Positive Being. What the difference and why does it matter?

Positive Thinking as people usually understand it is lacking: Note something you want changed and think about how you want it to be. This is probably the least effective and most frustrating form of positive thinking, yet, from what I hear from others, is the most common form. But look at it. All you do with this type of thinking is remind yourself why you want x changed to begin with. There is nothing powerful or life changing about this type of thinking. You want x, and you don't have it, and you are reminding yourself of not having it in a deceptively positive way.

Some people I know have a more powerful way of understanding Positive Thinking: Note something you want changed (x) and envision x in its changed form. This at least has you begin to act as if x is changed already, but only when you keep the new form of x in the forefront of your mind. Thus, it is also limited. You have to concentrate a lot, and it also sets you up for disappointment, because if x changes in any way but the one you envisioned there is a potential that you either won't notice it (cause that's not what you were looking for) or, you will notice but be unhappy with the result.

The way I live, and the form of Positive Thinking that I find to be the most powerful isn't thinking at all. Its being. Being a person to whom positive things happen. Its like being a red-head, or being a 29 year old, or being a woman. Nothing that happens to me, or that is said to me, can change any of those things. Sure, there are times when I feel older or younger, or maybe less of a woman, or less of a red-head, but those times are short lived, and, because they are inherently false, it never occurs to me that I will feel like that permanently.

The same concept applies to being positive. I am someone for whom life works. I am someone who has a great life. And because I am not just thinking these things, but being them, there isn't any space for anything negative in my life for long. In fact, because I am BEING positive, I rarely think positive at all. Why would I? Its like feeling the need to think red-head. I am one. Why would I think about that?

What's truly amazing, is when you are being something, you draw that to you. Because I am positive, I experience everything in a positive light. I see openings for more positivity that I might not if I wasn't keyed into it. I draw positive people to me, because everyone likes to be around people who are like them.

Positive Thinking can most definitely lead to Positive Being, but they are not the same thing. Each has their place, and if transforming your being is a difficult process for you, if it is new to you, then thinking is a good place to start. But if you find yourself frustrated with the results you get, or don't get, with positive thinking, look at who you are being. I would bet that's where the answer is.