@Mystique: Positive thinking is a technique for those who need it to get them through something. It covers up the truth. It definitely has its purpose, and I think everyone uses it at times. However, the truly happy don't need positive thinking

If done repeatedly, I'm thinking that it could help grow new neural pathways and affect mood, but I still think it's just another [i][b]onion layer[/b][/i], and other people will still affect our emotions to one degree or another.

I disagree to an extent with you. Many studies have been done about the power of positive thinking .

But what you say about other's mood affecting us is true. I feel miserable when my friends are miserable etc. It is an immediate feeling .

And you are quite right since the day we are born people affect us - let us down , breaks us, build us up. Those feelings are all buried in the subconsious and when triggered pop up again and affects our daily lifes but we have a choice to fight it.

Easier said than done- i battle my own demons-but science tells us that only you can make yourself happy.

Well my dear, Narelle, you just made me smile, and added to my happiness quotient. 🙂

You make me smile Ms. C. You are so self aware and unpretentious. Plus you express so well, the thoughts that swirl inside my own head. And I adore that you smash open the cliche' boxes so many live in.

I agree. If it weren't true, we wouldn't be broken hearted or offended, or have reactions at all.

I could not agree with you more,there are lots of preconceived notions circulating in "society" and this is one of them,that we choose what we feel and how we react to certain situations, I wish it was a simple and as easy as that!

Aw, well I'm glad then. And I also agree with you on the positive thinking. It can be like a pep talk or mask worn to cover pain or sadness. If you're happy naturally, you don't even worry about it.

Damn it, what the Hell happened to my cliche' box, it's broken! Somebody's gonna pay for this damage!

Mystique, I have a problem with
" only you can make yourself happy." What about when someone tells you , I love you. Didnt they just make you happy. Or when I take my great grands to the store and buy them something special, dont I make them happy. I think people can make others happy.

we are not islands, we are emotional beigns and by nature we need other people to satisfy us. Company,love,sex,equals .....and those other people obviously makes us happy or sad, break our hearts. So yes they have an effect on us we like it or not.

Jeez, I didn't read the novel but I can say with certainty that you can, and should be, in control of your emotions. No one can make you happy or sad unless you give them that power. I didn't say it was easy to hold that power in your hands, only that you can.

I'd like to think I am more of a positive force on people around me but I have my days when everything feels like garbage

So @naughty, every person has the power to feel absolutely nothing and be impervious to events around them?

Actually, you said control emotions which is not the same as feeling emotions. One still feels.

So are you saying that before today, and all the days ahead, no other person will have the power to affect your feelings one way or the other? When you see a newborn baby (possibly your own) you won't feel a rush of love and happiness? Conversely, the loss of someone won't affect you?

people can pretend they have no feelings but even spock had feelings

No, no need to google Spock, FurryFace, everyone knows Spock.

you're googling Spock aren't you , lol

Are you sure about Dr. Spock Furry?

My therapist agrees with you Carissimi. Her typical line is "nobody just jerks their head back for no reason, you jerk your head back because someone farted in your face"

@Mystique: Your own experience tells you science is wrong.