Glance At Negatives, But Focus on Positives

"Psycho-Cybernetics" is one of those classic power-of-the-mind books that you read and it blows you away. Then, for a while, every self-help or pop-psychology book you read sounds like plagiarism. Then, you forget about it. Then, you pick it up again, and start that whole process over...

Glance at Negatives, But Focus on Positives

Automobiles come equipped with "negative indicators" placed directly in front of the driver, to tell you when the battery is not charging, when the engine is becoming too hot, when the oil pressure is becoming too low, etc. To ignore these negatives might ruin your car. However, there is no need to become unduly upset if some negative signal flashes. You merely stop at a service station or a garage, and take positive action to correct. A negative signal does not mean the car is no good. All cars overheat at times.

However, the driver of the automobile does not look at the control panel exclusively and continuously. To do so might be disastrous. He must focus his gaze through the windshield, look where he is going, and keep his primary attention on his goal - where he wants to go.  He merely glances at the negative indicators from time to time. When he does, he does not fix upon them or dwell upon them. He quickly focuses  his sight ahead of him again and concentrates on the positive goal of where he wants to go.

- Psycho-Cybernetics (p. 147)

As Pavel has said many times, you can only do so many "correctives" but if you want to get down to the business of being strong, you have to lift big. Pay attention to the "negative indicators" when they light up on the dash, but keep your eyes on the road and, when possible, your foot on the accelerator.