For some of us, prayer is wasting time with something which has no supporting scientific evidence, and for others, it's a way for us to connect on a deeper level with something bigger and meaningful beyond ourselves. Religion, is commonly associated with prayer, but as far as I can ascertain; prayer need not necessarily involve some form of deity, although, usually it does.
Prayer, in my view, contains two aspects: the internal aspect: self reflection and self awareness,
the external aspect: our sense of connection with something bigger than the self.
Some of us may perhaps view prayer as wishful thinking; "Please, let me win lotto,.... Please, bring my kid home safely,....Please, help the doctors to find out what's wrong with my partner", etc. I read somewhere: "When the ship is sinking, or our child is missing, or we suddenly find a strange lump on our body,... most of us, religious or not, start praying." Wishful thinking, though often viewed as somewhat pointless, still has merit I believe, because it contains hope.
Some research suggest that there are a number of beneficial aspects to prayer, such as:
it offers a sense of optimism and hope, it can assist us in focusing our attention on positive outcomes,
it can help us stay calm and hopeful in the midst of a trying situation.
I used to watch "N.Y.P.D Blue" and in the show a phrase kept popping up: "I'll be thinking good thoughts for you." The main characters in the show would use this phrase if someone was experiencing a loss, a difficult situation, injury, some kind of mental anguish, pain, suffering, etc.
This had me intrigued....was this phrase used as an alternative to: "I'll be praying for you?"
The more I thought about it, the more it seemed as if both terms essentially meant hope for something positive and good to eventuate. "I'll be thinking good thoughts for you", as in, "I will be focusing my thoughts on optimism, hope, and strength, for you to overcome this difficult time in your life".
The difference between the two phrases, I concluded was that "I'll be thinking good thoughts for you" involved the individual saying those words offering their hope and optimism as a support, whereas "I'll be praying for you" involves the individual saying those words offering their faith in something outside of themselves intervening and assisting in supporting the person in pain.("I am the go-between, and I will bring your situation to him/her/that/it , and him/her/that/it, will assist and support you.")
The person offering their personal thoughts of optimism and support, or the person offering optimism and support with the assistance of something outside of themselves, are both hoping for something positive and helpful to be the result.
As far as media is concerned, earth is in a mess it seems. The ratio of "good news" verses "bad news" that is bombarding our retinas and ear drums non-stop, seems to me to be very much on the side of the "bad". Stories of wars, famines, conflicts, starvation, desolation, people running for their lives from their homes to protect their families, boats full of people sinking, the planet groaning from the effects of a careless mankind, etc.etc. are constantly emblazoned across the screens.
So what can you and I do about it?
Pray? Think good thoughts?
According to some research; negative emotions and thoughts, limits our ability to see options, positive emotions and thoughts, does the opposite. (Barbara Fredrickson)
If our emotions and thoughts are predominantly focused on "bad" news/situations/emotions, it can be easy to get stuck in feeling powerless and helpless to affect any change for the better/positive.
If, on the other hand, even in the face of the onslaught of all the bad "stuff", we seek out that which is life affirming, hopeful, positive, good, and give it some of our attention, we may be able to find some hope and in doing so, generate some positive emotions and thoughts.
And that's the good thing with thinking good thoughts, and prayer in my view.
Both are directed towards something happening/changing for the better. (better: more positive, a life affirming outcome) Even if a person does not believe in praying to a deity or something of the kind, a person can still think good thoughts and share them with others and in doing so, spread some positivity that generates more hope. And for a person who believes in prayer, thinking and sharing good thoughts not based on the faith in some form of deity/similar, can also spread some positivity that generates more hope. Optimism, positivity, and hope, may I suggest, is available to us all, with or without any belief system that includes a deity of some sort.
Good thoughts, are like little rays of light; no darkness is dark enough to withstand them no matter how small they are.
"Optimism is the most important human trait, because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation, and to hope for a better tomorrow." (Seth Godin)
Christopher Hitchens, a self professed atheist, quoted this from the Bible at his fathers funeral: "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
For you, reading this right now, I am sending many good thoughts.
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