The Power of Nonsense

I want to preface my remarks by saying that I have read Creating Miracles, and am now reading The Power of Now, so I have an open mind. I'm a curious person who is particularly fascinated by popular culture and its obsession with the cheap and easy fix. 

It is a sign of immaturity to ascribe miraculous healing powers to Band-aids. Children do that. Children ask for a Band-aid when they hurt themselves even if their skin has not been broken, and when said medical treatment is given, they feel better. However, band-aids don't take away pain and they don't heal cuts. They prevent infection and repress blood flow. That's all. Society believes in Band-aid solutions for its serious moral problems. We make laws to punish wrongdoing, and when they don't succeed as deterrents we make the penalties harsher while ignoring the causes. Society does the best it can: flawed systems operated by flawed humans.

Individuals also like Band-aids. Alcohol, drugs, work, sport and sex are all used to treat the symptoms of unhappiness, loneliness and discontent. What is the cause of these symptoms? What is the disease? Perhaps I'll answer that question some other time. I'm sure you have your own views, but I wanted to talk about New Age religion and the alleged power of the human mind to change reality.

In a nutshell, the various power of positive thought philosophies say that if you are unhappy, lonely or discontented, it's your fault because your thinking is wrong. If your circumstances suck then you can change them with your mind. You can heal yourself, fix all your problems and find peace simply by wanting it and by utilising the power of your mind. You are the key to your salvation. If you don't know how to do it, then learn because your ignorance is costing you your happiness.

Don't get me wrong. I believe positivity has power, and I accept that to some extent we can either ease or exacerbate our emotional suffering depending on our attitude but...

What do you think? What is the disease? What is the cure? Can people save themselves or do we need help?

Photo sources:
http://radiofreethinker.com/2012/02/04/the-myth-of-positive-thinking/
http://www.breathofoptimism.com/carnival-positive-thinking-bad-seems-edition/
http://kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/2012/09/13/happy-positive-thinking-day/kim-kardashian-happy-positive-thinking-day-quotes-009/
http://www.clipartbest.com/pink-band-aids