Taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5)

Vision
Positive Thinking
In recent years, we have not wanted for positive thinking gurus. Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller, Robert Ringer, Rhonda Byrne, and even the US Army exhorts us to “Be all that you can be!” Mystics and motivational speakers, proprietary schools and posters, consultants and con-artists hold out the promise of a bigger, brighter, better future.

Now here we are in the middle of a tumultuous presidential campaign, and when the opposing parties aren’t vilifying and blaming one another, they’re encouraging us to think positive thoughts about what can happen – if only they are elected to the highest office in the land.

But is all this positive thinking good for us? Not according to Gabrielle Oettingen, professor of psychology at New York University and the University of Hamburg. Writing in the July 25, 2016 issue of Aeon, Dr. Oettingen warns that fantastic thinking about the future can actually be detrimental to wellbeing. No matter how much we may want something, and train our minds to envision it and our bodies to pursue it, we could actually end up disappointed and exhausted, without realizing the thing we positively believed we would achieve (“Don’t think too positive”).

Positive thinking today has spawned a $12 billion industry in the belief that “positive thinking can improve our moods and lead to beneficial life changes.” But, as Dr. Oettingen warns, “Positive thinking can make us feel better in the short term, but over the long term it saps our motivation, preventing us from achieving our wishes and goals, and leaving us feeling frustrated, stymied and stuck.”

She cites numerous research findings to support her claim, and concludes that “Positive thinking impedes performance because it relaxes us and drains the energy we need to take action.” This is perhaps contrary to what we might think. If we think big and dream large, won’t we muscle-up the energy to pursue our vision of the good life? The research says no. The big vision itself has a lulling and deadening effect, as if merely dreaming our dream were all we had to do. “We achieve our goals virtually,” Dr. Oettingen explains, “and thus feel less need to take action in the real world.”

But Dr. Oettingen doesn’t want to discourage us from envisioning a better future. Rather, she counsels a more realistic approach to all such envisioning, one in which we dream big dreams, but we keep the real world and all its challenges in mind as we do. She urges us “to bring positive thinking up against a visualization of the challenges that stand in our way.”

She offers a helpful formula for how to think about the future, which she explains by the acronym WOOP – Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan. We can’t escape some view of the future, so we may as well try to identify one that is desirable and promising. But once we’ve defined our Wish it’s time to specify the Outcome in specific detail. What will our lives look like as we are realizing our dream? By articulating specific outcomes in different areas of our lives, we can begin to anticipate the Obstacles we’ll have to overcome, and to devise a Plan for meeting and overcoming each of these.

Dr. Oettingen believes her method can be applied not merely to career paths, but to relationships, avocations, and all kinds of self-improvement objectives. WOOP can even help people who struggle with depression by providing them with real motivation and energy to help them find their everyday activities and pursuits meaningful, challenging, and rewarding.

She writes, “Performing WOOP is a process of discovery, and it is enjoyable, so why not give it a try?” Dream big, set specific goals, carefully identify the obstacles and challenges you’ll need to overcome, then make a plan to marshal your daily activities in pursuit of your vision.

Dr. Oettingen describes her method as possessing a kind of magic. It really works, and she has the data to prove it.

But it’s not magic, it’s just sound Biblical thinking about time, calling, daily living, and faith.

Social science is again catching up to the Bible in an important area of human life. The Bible clearly teaches us to live toward the future by seeking the Kingdom of God in all aspects of our lives (Matt. 6.33). That vision should be articulated in specific goals of stewardship, relationships, love, and personal growth (Rom. 14.17, 18). But we need to prepare for the temptations, trials, setbacks, and disappointments we will inevitably encounter (Prov. 1.17), so that we can work through them unto greater Kingdom progress. Seeking the Lord’s help in numbering our days (Ps. 90.12, 16, 17), and making our plans within the framework of His will (Jms. 4.13-16), can ensure that each day’s activity, whatever we may be doing, will bring glory to God, increase in Christ-likeness, and progress in our Kingdom vision and calling (2 Cor. 3.12-18; 2 Pet. 3.18; 1 Cor. 10.31).

The only change I’d make in Dr. Oettingen’s acronym is to substitute Tr for W – Truth for Wish. We know the truth in Jesus Christ. Through Him we realize the promises of God. We see His Kingdom in its coming. All we need to do is claim and own that Truth for our lives. The Christian vision of the future is not mere wishful thinking; it’s banking on the Truth.

It is a measure of the common grace of God – His love for all people, even those who deny Him – that He continues to allow them to discover His truth and to enjoy the benefits of obeying it. It’s our job, in the Kingdom of God, to commend such discoveries, show their Biblical provenance and proof, and encourage all who benefit from them to seek the larger truth of God which can only be found in Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 17.22-31).

For reflection
1.  How do you work to develop a vision for your personal life? What does your vision include?                                                               

2.  Do you agree that WOOP corresponds nicely to Biblical teaching? Should we fear trying such techniques, as long as we keep the Scriptures in view? Why is Tr better than W as a first step in doing this exercise?

3.  Do you think social science research would be improved if social scientists were better informed about the teaching of Scripture? Explain.

Next steps: Try going through a TrOOP exercise of your own, using the Scriptures mentioned in the penultimate paragraph of this article to guide you.

Today at The Fellowship
ReVision: This week’s ReVision is part 6 in our series on the Kingdom Economy. This week we turn to the Law of God to discover principles to guide our economic and social lives for the grace and glory of God. Download this week’s studies in a free PDF by clicking here.

Crosfigell: Paul shows us that, when the storms of life crash in, it’s time for Christians to stand up and show the way to safety through trusting in the Lord.

Scriptorium: Paul’s ministry in Greece continues as the ongoing work of Christ launches in Thessalonica and Berea. Download this week’s PDF of our Scriptorium study of Acts 16.11-17.9 (Part 15). Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch, only to become caught up in a major doctrinal dispute.

Voices Together: John Nunnikhoven’s daily meditations can help you in the practical work of prayer and obedience.

In the Bookstore: The Kingdom Turn and The Poetry of Prayer can help you realize more of the presence, promise, and power for Kingdom living as a follower of Christ.

Videos: Finally, check out the state of your Christian worldview by watching the video and downloading the Personal Discipleship Inventory, a tool for evaluating your worldview and growing in Kingdom vision, disciplines, and outcomes.

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T. M. Moore