Positive thinking, action and dynamism
The article describes character traits that, according to Roberto Assagioli, are associated with the new zeitgeist we are entering – the tendency towards positive thinking, action and dynamism, all of which are manifestations of the will aspect.
By Roberto Assagioli , Translation Ebba Larsen
The subject of “will” is so vast and difficult that it cannot be fully treated here, for it includes purpose, intention, motivation, determination, decision or choice, invocation, planning, and direction of inner and outer actions. Here we can study only the active and dynamic function of the will, which is to accelerate and direct energy to the implementation of what is agreed upon.
For the individual, positive (understood as something outwardly oriented) thinking and acting can be expressed as self-assertion, courage, willingness to take risks, to assume responsibility and to engage. It can also manifest as a decision to want to master something in both the external and internal world – for example, matter, nature and the psychological forces within oneself and in others.
The will and the symbolism of fire
A fitting symbol of will is fire . Fire symbolizes victory over fear and inertia, over the tendency to do the least possible thing, and we often say of a person that he is a “fire” soul in the sense that he is dynamic, that he possesses a driving force, and that he is positive in terms of intention and will.
Dynamics is a particularly good expression of positive thinking and action. It manifests itself as a vital and strong manifestation of energy, as a driving force, as enthusiasm and zest for life, and as a special intensity, and it accelerates life in every way. Dynamics thus has a positive value because it accelerates the pace of the evolutionary process, but it can also be and has already proven to be dangerous and destructive when it motivates uncontrolled activities or a restlessness that leads to the forced use of force.
Dynamics and stress
The most prevalent cases are the urge for an excessive and useless pace, for the constant high pressure and tension of modern life, and for feverish and reckless activities, which very often result in nervous disorders and mental exhaustion, and which sometimes even lead to death. Here it is most necessary to use that aspect of the will which leads to self-restraint and self-control – an aspect which is as important as the more commonly known ones: determination and perseverance.
Heroism
The highest spiritual expression of positive thinking and action is heroism. But we can see a more common manifestation in sports, for example in the competitive spirit of sports and the incentive to break records. It is also clearly seen in mountaineering and especially in space exploration.
Another and completely different expression is seen in the current rapidly increasing interest in yoga, psychism and invocations as methods for gaining power.
This tendency towards positive thinking, action and dynamism, like all other tendencies, also has exaggerations, distortions and “deteriorations”. Exaggeration can often be traced as excessive self-assertion, recklessness, combativeness or lack of consideration for others and lack of understanding of others. There is also a pseudo-positive thinking and action, and it is clearly seen in those people who are outwardly overactive and who are influenced by the urge to act, but who do not master how to use it in any constructive way.
Integration
The people who need most to learn to tune in and develop positive thinking and action are the religious, especially the Christians, who have developed an acceptance of devotion to and submission to the will of God. This does not mean that they should eliminate these high spiritual virtues, but that they should be harmonized and integrated with the positive qualities.
On the other hand, those who have quite spontaneously acquired the capacity for positive thinking and action must balance its exaggerations and its one-sidedness with a corresponding development of receptive thinking and action, and of the “feminine” principle of acceptance, love, affection, protection and preservation of life.
When this integration is achieved – at least to some extent – then one can master and use both expressions of thought and action, and use them alternately and rhythmically according to the inner and outer situation and to the need. The highest goal is to raise consciousness and remain above both polarities, and from this high point of inner freedom to use them with wisdom.
The age of women?
Before we leave this subject, we should eliminate a possible misunderstanding and explain an apparent contradiction. Some writers have described the coming cycle as the “era of women,” and this seems to be in contrast to the positive thinking and action that are characteristic of the new age. In reality, it is not a contradiction. The coming age may well be called the “era of women” because women now and in the future have for the first time the opportunity to participate fully and on equal terms with men in the life of humanity. During the last decades, women, because of the new conditions, have both demanded and committed themselves to taking an increasingly active role in social life. This was inevitable and has had good results. Women are no longer confined to their feminine roles, although these roles are of great importance and value, but as individuals, as human beings, they are increasingly contributing their specific human qualities to the life of humanity.
However, this development can also lead to dangers and exaggerations, and this has already been seen in the excessive “masculinization” of women, in cases where women imitate and compete with men, and in women’s corresponding lack of appreciation of feminine roles and even refusal to fulfill them. Alfred Adler called this a “masculinity protest”, as he attributed great importance to this tendency as the cause of several of the nervous disorders and psychological difficulties of the time.
Acceptance of the feminine role
To avoid such exaggerations or overcompensations, it is necessary for women to gain a clear insight into this problem, so that they become aware that the solution lies in fully accepting their feminine roles, appreciating their value and fulfilling them in a controlled manner. This does not mean that women should fully identify with every feminine role, but also that they consciously supplement it with higher masculine qualities (we emphasize the word “higher”!). This is again a question of integration and of synthesis without eliminating anything vital and valuable.
When women have developed such integration within themselves, both individually and as a group, they will be able to cooperate freely and equally with men in the great task of shaping the new civilization and culture. In this task, they also have the significant role of counteracting the excessively positive masculine thinking and action, integrating it and balancing it with the higher feminine qualities.
Balancing love and will
One could say that the balancing of the masculine and feminine polarities and roles is an aspect of the relationship between love and will. Very often these two occur separately and even in opposition to each other, and this is one of the causes of many of today’s difficulties.
The problem is that people who have a strong will usually have little love, and people who have a lot of love have only a limited will. The solution is obvious, but not easy to practice. Those who have love should develop a corresponding degree of will, and those who have will should develop love. Unfortunately, those who have a strong will usually do not feel the urge to develop love and are content to let their will prevail until they encounter reactions and resistance, which often breaks them down. There are many historical examples of this.
On the other hand, those who are primarily loving should be “willing” to develop the will to make their love more effective, more creative, and to neutralize or balance the excessive will that is so prevalent today. This is an urgent task – to develop the will to be able to express love more effectively and constructively, and it is a significant aspect of the balancing and synthesis of the opposites described in the article: Balancing and Synthesis of Opposites.
How to move forward
Here you can receive seven free meditations , one of which develops the will.
Also read the book The Psychology of Will for a complete introduction to the will.
