Being positive is something that should be easy but it’s actually quite hard in practice. I’ve written about my quest to be a positive person and how I have struggled with it in previous blog posts. However, I feel it’s important to brush on that subject once in a while.
I read an article by Forbes Women which really struck a chord with me. It was giving readers tools to combat their negative mindset and develop a positive outlook. The article explains that saying negative things about your abilities or prospects can be foreshadowing. That means telling yourself that you can’t do something will actually end up to be true –if you do it enough. Sounds simple right?
Growing up, I was often told that the words I speak will end up being reality. As such, I always tried to be positive, but somewhere along the line, I forgot. What can I say? Things get hard and you get busy, so you can lose track of training yourself.
Still, I wholly believe that it is true. I got a sample of that effect when I was reading Sister Carrie. Hurtswood’s negative mindset ended up breaking him. Before he even got the chance to fail, he was already acting as if he had. The book exposed me to a life of depravity and I was completely captivated by it. I actually could have finished the book in three days if I wanted. That is how good the story was.
Through Carrie, I was reaffirmed in the belief that looking to materialism and new levels of successes to reach happiness, will leave a person disconsolate.
I think this book was a way for Dreiser to guide young girls as they get exposed to the world. It felt as if there were two underlining messages. One was: young girls should tread carefully on the paths they choose because the life they want isn’t always the best. The second was: your thoughts and temperament set the framework for your life. That was evident in Carrie’s realization that even after getting luxuries and money, she was still left unsatisfied and wanting.
I am so happy that I read this book because it brought me back to reality. It reminded me of that fact and now I feel refreshed. It feels like I just felt a cold breeze after being uncomfortable and hot for so long.
And with that, I give the book a 5 out of 5. Please comment below. I want to know what you think, don’t be stingy with your thoughts!
