The Power of Negative Thinking

There is a quote I like: "Even if you are on the right track, you can be run over the train, if you just sit there". 

In other words, if the light at the end of the tunnel is a train coming your way, no amount of  positive thinking will not save you, although of course, if you can avoid worrying, you will  be  quite happy and relaxed right until the moment the train hits and you've became roadkill.

On the other hand, sitting on the tracks, paralyzed by worry and fear that a train might come and hit you will not save you either, unless you get moving and get off the damn track!

Thinking, either positively or negatively, on its own does neither "create a better future" nor "cause bad things to happen". Thoughts  either negative or positive without action are just those: thoughts. Positive thinking without action is as useless and possibly harmful as negative thinking. 

Think about it: if you leave a pot on the stove while you leave to do your positive visualization session and a fire breaks out in your kitchen, the fire is neither a result of your negative thinking, nor is it prevented by the positive energy created by your visualizations. 

If you do find a fire in your kitchen, I hope you will not try to "bless it" or "breathe through it": you will deal with it, and if you can not put it out easily, you will call 911 and ask for the firefighters to come and deal with it.

Likely, and hopefully, the fire department will not instruct you to sit down, take deep breaths, and visualize the fire  putting out itself.  Most likely, and most hopefully, they have a truck available, and will send trained firefighters armed with tools and knowledge to deal with the emergency.

The very existence of a firefighter department in your community is a result of "negative thinking" and "positive thinking": it is their job to think of any and all causes, man made, or act of God, deliberate or accidental, that could cause a fire, it is their job to think of anything that might go wrong, and it is their job to come up with a plan as to how to deal with any and all that can go wrong. Of course, coming up with a plan to prevent fires, as well as a plan to put them out requires positive thinking: they must believe that they are capable of putting the fire out and they must feel confident in their training and capability to do so.

On the other hand, having a plan is utterly useless without actually putting it into action. If there were plans to have a fire department, but no dispatch, no fire trucks, no tools and no capable fireman available, the fire will not put itself out.

Facing your worst fears, and making an "emergency" or, "contingency" plan to deal with them, instead of either being paralyzed by them, or simply wishing them away is a powerful way of reducing anxiety and increasing your chances of survival, or success.

Thinking negatively does not cause disasters  but having a plan to deal with negative events is positively helpful in life's small or big emergencies.

So, "Trust Allah, but tie your Camels". Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst, and whatever you do, do something: you do not get anywhere by sitting on the right track, but you might very well run over by the train, if you just sit there.