I was speaking on the East Coast this past week and out of the blue, I began to question what the difference is between positive thinking and intelligence? It’s not like I am the resident expert on either subject. However there was something magical as I talked about what the two meant to me. First, I think positive thinking has been a good thing for many people. Let’s just say the endeavor to be “positive” will likely be more serving for most people than the endeavor to be cynical. However, I have known some people (yes, even me in my not so distant past) that have been more positive than intelligent…so let’s explore that.

I remember once having a really bad head cold. You know the kind, including red eyes, runny nose, fever, and a plastic smile. People would say: How are you feeling?  I’d instinctively reply something along the lines of “I feel great. I feel better all the time. Don’t worry about me”….  “I am fine”.  That’s almost as yuck as the cold itself. Everyone knew I felt like crap. I looked like crap.  It was just not real.  I don’t really know where that began for me. Maybe it was the Peter Lowe seminar I did in the mid 1990’s. Somewhere along the lines I got good at saying I was great…fine…wonderful…without really being present with the truth.   I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had this conversation.

Now having said that, let’s introduce intelligent thinking into the mix. It might have been more intelligent (meaning to have some degree of wisdom) to cop to the fact that I had something funky running out my nose, my body ached and I needed to sleep. In fact, I submit it would have been in the realm of intelligent thinking to admit that “I don’t feel great” and “I am doing some things to take care of myself. I am taking vitamin C…I am getting more rest….I am clearing this head cold by tomorrow morning”. The idea is one of presence and real about what is happening as an intelligent way of being.  I believe the “I’m fine” answer has become our collective “auto-response” to the question.  My challenge to you is to speak the truth and move on, rather than speaking for the sake of having words to say.

I think movements like “The Secret” and many other good news programs can really support us in our journey to live beautiful lives. However, it’s important that we not lose touch with the reality of what we are really dealing with. I am not encouraging us to get stuck in “stinking thinking” but rather to embrace the situation as we choose a new direction for a solution.

Obviously the runny nose example is plebian…and you can relate to the same scenario with your work projects, fitness programs, finances etc. It makes no sense to not be real and authentic. In fact, I believe once you can really “own” your runny nose, you can move yourself to healing more quickly than if you were to deny it. Because you cannot leave a place that you have never been – getting real with where you are empowers you to clearly see the next steps to move towards what you want to create.

Being authentic is the grease on the slide of life. You can move more freely and most people will feel closer to you…than if you play it “cool” all the time. Two of the greatest business coaches I know, Steve Hardison and Steve Chandler use life tribulations to inspire others on to greatness. I invite you to do the same from moment to moment to moment. Be real, be authentic, and seek the solutions that catapult you into a powerful way of living.