Every time I’ve tried it, it hasn’t done me any good.
I wonder what’s your methodology?
maybe it’s because I have a deep dislike for egotistical people and when I try to convince myself I’m better than I genuinely think I am
That may be your problem right there. IMO, thinking positively should never entail convincing yourself that you are a better person than you truly are. And, it certainly shouldn’t entail being disingenuous or you’re simply being overconfident (and perhaps egotistical).
That’s how people get killed in surfing and I’ve regrettably seen that happen myself. I don’t care how “positive” someone thinks about surfing large waves, if they don’t properly train for it beforehand they are likely to get seriously injured or killed.
Just like many things in life, along with knowledge, you often have to earn the waves by using proper strategy to get into the right position and paddle your ass off even when you’re exhausted and want to stop. Positive thinking might keep you from wanting to stop paddling when you need it, but if you overestimated your knowledge of the break, nothing is going to stop a wave from smashing you into the rocks when you’re perpetually caught inside the breaking waves from poor positioning, etc.
To me it’s almost a “mechanical” lizard brain approach to thinking that has very little to do with ego (at least when it comes to bullshit pride). For example, if you talk to a lot of dynamic basketball players they’ll tell you they envision making their shot just before they shoot. They literally see it happen in their mind’s eye before they attempt the shot. That doesn’t make them egotistical, does it?
I’ve practiced the same thing with surfing large waves I’m scared shitless to drop into and many other surfers will tell you this this exact, same thing… you’ll very often know a split second before you drop into the wave if you’re going to make it or not.
If you manage to put aside panic (not fear in these situations), clear your mind enough to envision making the drop and riding the wave, you’re incredibly more likely to actually make it. When I’ve allowed panic to take over, my mind takes a shit and I don’t visualize making the drop at all. That’ll often cause hesitation and failure.
You do also have to get over one’s natural fear of failure and that, of course, is going to be much easier to cope with if you’ve been realistic and prepared for the possibility of failure. Healthy, positive thinking shouldn’t even be delusional where you give yourself no margin for error.
It’s that healthy fear that keeps me from surfing waves that are simply too large for me to mentally handle without probably freezing into a deadly panic. And, that leads to another huge thing. Respect. I have respect and awe for the ocean’s power. I’m aware that I’m an insignificant speck in the ocean and if I get overconfident, it may kill me.
I think many things in life are a lot like that as well. If you respect the obstacles you face and therefore properly prepare for them, you’re going to be in a much better position. Afterwards, if you visualize paths to success, your subconscious mind is more likely to do small actions that may perhaps lead to larger, positive actions. If you go to a job interview and don’t envision success beforehand (along with proper preparation, of course), you may get overly nervous, start sweating and screw up answers to questions, etc.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll get a specific job simply because you “thought positive” or whatever, but at least you increase your odds of getting jobs by being less likely to freak out at the interviews for them. Confidence, not overconfidence.
Does that make sense? Visualizing success? Literally playing it out in your head like a little movie? That’s one of the core parts of positive thinking in my opinion.
