“Bright-Sided,” by Barbara Ehrenreich

“Positive thinking” has become a hallmark of our culture.  If we just “think positive,” good things will happen to us.  Despite the lack of empirical evidence, we hold fast to the hope that crafting an amazing life is as simple as creating a compelling Vision Board.  When positive thinking doesn’t magically transform our lives, we can be plunged into a state of self-recrimination and paralysis.  It can also become socially isolating, when others decide they don’t want to be around someone who isn’t perpetually cheerful and optimistic.  As the author illustrates, positive thinking (essentially, wishful thinking) is ineffective to the process of creating a meaningful, rewarding life.  Instead, she encourages her readers to live in the fullness of their reality, even when that reality is difficult or painful, and to learn to be authentic and resilient. She encourages us to face life with a clear head and eyes wide open, fully engaging in our lives and our world.

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