Positive Thinking?

I've heard a lot about the power of positive thinking lately.  It all started in 2006(ish) with The Secret (which was featured on Oprah and even has a DVD).  I didn't get on board.  I called myself a realist.  I still consider myself a realist.  But there has been a resurgence of positive thinking hype lately, and this resurgence has prompted me to evaluate my own mode of thinking.  I am now forced to admit that perhaps being a realist isn't all it's cracked up to be.  Living in a hard reality certainly results in negative thoughts, and all those hippie-dippy-rainbow-and-sunshine positive thinkers seem to be happy (even if I do find them irritating).

Today I had two nearly simultaneous experiences.  First, I stumbled across this quote:

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -- Abraham Lincoln

Then I spoke with one of my relatives on the phone.  She didn't have anything positive to say.  I spent twenty minutes listening to a complaint riddled conversation about how terrible the world is today and how awful humanity is.  The whole time I was listening to this negativity, I was staring at that quote.  Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.  And then it struck me...

My family, though loving, is filled with negative thinkers.  Most are not happy, but nearly all of them are negative.  I was raised surrounded by negative energy, negative words, and negative experiences.  It is no wonder I internalized such negativity and that negativity has become my reality.

Well I don't want that reality anymore.  I reject that reality.  I want something different.  I want to be happy and I want to be positive.  I'm drinking the hippie-dippy-rainbow-and-sunshine-colored-kool aid.  I am making up my mind to be happier and more positive.

I don't expect it to be an easy transition.  I've spent nearly 3 decades with negativity.  It won't be easy to shed it.  But I have to try. 

I hope this power of positive thinking thing makes a difference.  I've decided to start by taking a few days hiatus from the internet.  Wish me luck!  Happy thoughts to you all :)