I may be giving too much credit to Trump having a “mental state” with “reasons” but I can’t help being vividly reminded here of New Thought and Trump’s early and long relationship with the Rev. Norman Vincent (The Power of Positive Thinking) Peale.
A common theme in this spiritual mindset is that worrying about something makes the thing you’re worrying about happen. Not just in the reasonable sense, in which, say, an actor who obsesses about forgetting their lines ends up, in fact, forgetting their lines, but in the supernatural sense. If you fear running into a traffic jam, you create the traffic jam you fear. Don’t think about it, the road is clear. The universe is attuned to Thoughts, which bend and manifest reality.
Is there any remote possibility, then, that Trump is at least partly returning to those habits engrained by New Thought: if we don’t panic about COVID-19, it will just disappear? Worry and you get what you expect. Blunder on hopefully and you’ll be fine. I know people who believe this, though they’ll pull back when it gets too ridiculous. Trump may lack that shrewdness.
iknklast
Is there any remote possibility, then, that Trump is at least partly returning to those habits engrained by New Thought:
While that might be true (and it is a view I abhor because it is used to “not paralyze action” in the environment, which has the effect of no one thinks action is needed), I suspect the correct term for Trump is No Thought.
Your Name’s not Bruce?
The universe is attuned to Thoughts, which bend and manifest reality
By Jove, I think you’ve just discovered the workings of Magic Gender Essence!
John the Drunkard
I’m still trying to get people to read Bright Sided, Barbara Ehrenreich’s book about the whole racket of ‘positive thinking’ and its toxic effect on American politics and culture.
A great twofer with Martin Gardner’s The Healing Revelations of Mary Baker Eddy.
Having been subjected to Christian Science teaching at a critical time in my childhood (while both parents were dying, in fact), it’s a book that means a great deal to me, as does Martin Gardner’s Fads and Fallacies.
Oddly, or perhaps not so oddly, I never read The Healing Revelations of Mary Baker Eddy. 45+ years on, there’s still a very sore spot there, but I may just about be ready to read it. Thanks, JtD.
Comments
6 responses to “Thoughtful”
I may be giving too much credit to Trump having a “mental state” with “reasons” but I can’t help being vividly reminded here of New Thought and Trump’s early and long relationship with the Rev. Norman Vincent (The Power of Positive Thinking) Peale.
A common theme in this spiritual mindset is that worrying about something makes the thing you’re worrying about happen. Not just in the reasonable sense, in which, say, an actor who obsesses about forgetting their lines ends up, in fact, forgetting their lines, but in the supernatural sense. If you fear running into a traffic jam, you create the traffic jam you fear. Don’t think about it, the road is clear. The universe is attuned to Thoughts, which bend and manifest reality.
Is there any remote possibility, then, that Trump is at least partly returning to those habits engrained by New Thought: if we don’t panic about COVID-19, it will just disappear? Worry and you get what you expect. Blunder on hopefully and you’ll be fine. I know people who believe this, though they’ll pull back when it gets too ridiculous. Trump may lack that shrewdness.
While that might be true (and it is a view I abhor because it is used to “not paralyze action” in the environment, which has the effect of no one thinks action is needed), I suspect the correct term for Trump is No Thought.
By Jove, I think you’ve just discovered the workings of Magic Gender Essence!
I’m still trying to get people to read Bright Sided, Barbara Ehrenreich’s book about the whole racket of ‘positive thinking’ and its toxic effect on American politics and culture.
A great twofer with Martin Gardner’s The Healing Revelations of Mary Baker Eddy.
Bright Sided is a genius book.
Seconding the recommendation of Bright Sided.
Having been subjected to Christian Science teaching at a critical time in my childhood (while both parents were dying, in fact), it’s a book that means a great deal to me, as does Martin Gardner’s Fads and Fallacies.
Oddly, or perhaps not so oddly, I never read The Healing Revelations of Mary Baker Eddy. 45+ years on, there’s still a very sore spot there, but I may just about be ready to read it. Thanks, JtD.