History of positive thinking
The history of positive thinking probably extends back to when human beings started to think. Nevertheless, it is credited to have begun in America as a promotable concept for self improvement during the great depression of the late '20s and early '30s. Two initial books got the concept rolling when they hit the market in 1936. One, which was very-highly read, was "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie and the second was Dorothea Brande's "Wake Up and Live". At the same time, several public speakers took the subject to new heights in popularity as it was blended with discourses that were basically religious. Even earlier publications that were religious or philosophical, touched on a positive mindset as a plus in human growth and achievement, the most noteworthy being philosopher William James' "Religion of Healthy Mindedness" published in 1902. There was a huge list of 'new thought' preachers that also used the still undefined concept of positive thinking in their lectures and sermons.
Positive thinking emerged from mainly religious dissertations and came into it's own right as a concept for personal improvement when Orison Marden began publishing Success magazine in 1891. It is still published today. Emile Coue, often referred to as the father of all inspirational thinking, however, is generally credited with bringing positive thinking as a concept to the forfront as a self-help method in the 1920's when he called the human mind "a sublime instrument that determines a person's identity."
Enter Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
The modern concept of positive thinking really owes it's popularity to Dr. Norman Vincent Peale who promoted it in his publication 'Guidelines' and through his many public lectures on the subject more than sixty years ago. Dr. Peale's famous 1952 book, "The Power of Positive Thinking" is still today one of the primary reference sources for information on the subject. Dr. Peale's extensive lectures and seminars both in the United States and abroad, was directly responsible for catapulting positive thinking into the mainstream of self-help popularity. Although Dr. Peale passed away some years ago, his Center for Positive Thinking carries on his important work by providing and disseminating excellent programs that teach people about the major contribution that the concept can make in their lives.
The advent of the Internet and computer technology now make positive thinking materials easy to come by for people in every corner of the world. Many new advocates have come into being and most have websites that provide detailed programs of both a general and specific nature that can be downloaded either at no cost or marginal cost. This is significantly aided by scientists who have recently proven that a positive mindset contributes in a very-meaningful way to improved health and longevity.
