---
title: Positive Thinking (archived)
url: https://mbmi.org/archive/mind-body-basics/positive-thinking
description: The Positive Thinking pages archived from mbmi.org: cognitive restructuring and a guide to turning automatic negative thoughts around.
original_author: Mind/Body Medical Institute (later Benson-Henry Institute)
archived_at: https://web.archive.org/web/20090616110735/http://www.mbmi.org/basics/whatis_pthinking_sdp.asp
---
# Positive Thinking (archived)

The institute's account of how thinking patterns feed stress, and how it taught people to change them.

- Original author: Mind/Body Medical Institute (later Benson-Henry Institute)
- Original URL: http://www.mbmi.org/basics/whatis_pthinking_sdp.asp
- Captured: 2006-09-26 to 2009-06-16 (37 snapshots)
- Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20090616110735/http://www.mbmi.org/basics/whatis_pthinking_sdp.asp
- Current guide: https://mbmi.org/mind-body-basics/positive-psychology

## What this page said

The page argued that most stress and emotional suffering come from the way people think about a situation, and that the thoughts behind stress are usually negative, unrealistic and distorted. Its programs used a cognitive and behavioural approach to help patients recognise self-defeating thoughts and irrational beliefs, followed by cognitive restructuring to replace automatic negative responses with positive, affirming ones.

A companion page, From Negative to Positive, walked readers through examining their automatic thoughts in a common stressful situation such as traffic, public speaking or conflict, asking whether the thoughts follow a pattern, exaggerate the situation or involve self-blame.

## Key points from the original

- Stress often stems from distorted, negative thinking.
- Cognitive restructuring replaces automatic negative thoughts.
- Readers were prompted to examine their own thought patterns.

This is a historical record, not medical advice.