As we go about our daily lives, our minds are filled with thoughts, feelings, views, memories and imaginations. These mental activities shape our thinking and reasoning consciously and unconsciously. Our intellect, enriched by knowledge, give birth to ideas, wishes and hopes. So, few, if not many, indulge in wishful thinking, believing that their desires will happen because their belief of what floats in their mind, are sure desires. Even when an occasional doubt arises about the possibility of their wishes, are impossible to materialise in reality, their wishful thinking strongly influence and compel them to act according. Yes, actions are a result of our thoughts. But those who believe in reality go away from these unrealistic dreams. Only the weak and the sick do unite, like a needle and thread, believing in the made-up hope of wishful thinkers who predict future with invented story.
Think of these various kinds of wishful thinkers. A cunning businessman might dream to cheat people, relying on persuasive plans to extract more money from customers. An adventure-seeker create images of a daring journey filled with excitement.
A miser worries over saving every penny he earns; even to the point of living in poverty; echoing the words of Bickerstaff, “I care for nobody, no, not I, if no one cares for me.” A pleasure-seeking individual dreams of endless touring, driven by deep-seated wishful thinking. The wishful thinking of a lazy student is to pray; and then sleep by putting his books under his pillow and belief that God would help him during his exams.
Many of us, at many social or official gatherings, must have met these, disgusting folks, whose behaviour smacks of ‘dadagiri’. They show an offensive attitude of ‘I-know-it-all’. They believe, what they utter is the only ultimate truth; they have no respect for others’ opinions. They pin their beliefs on others.
In the Bible, Joseph’s own brothers were jealous of him; with their wishful thinking, they banished him and sold him into slavery. (Gen. 37).
In case of wishful thinking, everything may seem to go well for a time at first, during the ‘dream stage’ of the wishful thinker. But such make-believe can never happen in reality, so, it leads to a ‘frustration stage’ as things start to go wrong. Then the fantasy, finally ends in an ‘explosion of reality’ showing the harsh fact of actuality.
Adolf Hitler’s belief in the superiority of the German race and his ambitions to dominate the world can indeed be considered a form of wishful thinking. His unrealistic vision were based on ideological beliefs rather than practical realities; which, ultimately lead to catastrophic consequences and his own death.
Every wishful thinker lives a life with beliefs in his head, hoping that his desires will happen one day. But finally, sooner or later it leads to frustration and despair because fantasies prove faulty. Our thoughts, though powerful, should be based on the firm ground of reality to actually happen. The saying, ‘As you think, so you become, shows the power of thought. If we change our wrong ideas with realistic goals, then, miraculously our situations begin to change.
Wishful thinking consist of forming beliefs based on a pleasing desires, without any evidence, logic or reality. Sometimes, it gives temporary comfort, but ultimately leads us away from reality and towards frustration.
