The document summarizes research on the power of positive thinking and optimism. It finds that interrogative self-talk ("Can I do this?") is more effective than declarative self-talk ("I can do this"). A ratio of 3:1 to 10:1 positive to negative emotions yields the best well-being and performance. Optimism improves sales performance and resilience when facing setbacks. The author provides tips for climbers to develop an effective mindset using interrogative self-talk, monitoring their positivity ratio, and maintaining an optimistic explanatory style.

1. One Response to Too much positive thinking?
The power of positive thinking is prolific in our culture. It is extolled
in the works of W. Clement Stone (Success Through Positive
Mental Attitude), Anthony Robins (Personal Power), Napoleon Hill
(Think and Grow Rich), Og Mandino (The Greatest Salesman in the
World), Rhonda Byrne (The Secret), and many others. It has
become so prolific that scientists have begun to study how and why
it works (or doesn’t), and what they have discovered may surprise
you.
When we think of positive thinking we often think of positive self-
talk. Positive self-talk and its brother, negative self-talk, has us
declaring what is or what will be. We may say that “I can win the
race,” or “I am too weak to complete the marathon.” These are
declarative statements and can be effective in achieving an
outcome, either good or bad. Scientists have found, however, that
more effective than declarative self-talk is Interrogative self-talk. In
this form of self-talk, rather than making a statement we ask a
question. We may say “Can I give a great presentation?”
In a groundbreaking 2010 study Dr. Kenji Naguchi and others at the University of Mississippi proved the
power of Interrogative self-talk. They showed that subjects primed with an interrogative mindset solved
50% more anagram puzzles than those primed with a declarative mindset. Further studies showed that
subjects with an interrogative predisposition solved twice as many anagrams as those without. Scientists
believe there are two reasons that this is the case.
1) Interrogative self-talk elicits answers
that contain strategies and summon
resources to accomplish the goal.
2) Interrogative self-talk surfaces intrinsic
motivations and elicits reasons that one
desires the outcome.

2. Researchers have also found that too much or too little positivity is counter productive. Barb Fredrickson
of the University of North Carolina is a world leading authority on the subject of positivity. According to Dr.
Fredrickson, negativity narrows our vision for tactical survival in the moment, while positivity broadens our
ideas about possible actions and increases our creativity. Fredrickson’s research has shown that a ratio
of positive to negative emotions between 3:1 and 10:1 yields better overall well-being that ratios outside
this range. Too much
negativity weighs you
down. Too much
positivity leads to
delusions and robs you of
feedback that you need
to improve.
More optimism also leads
to higher performance
and better resilience.
Martin Seligman of the
University of
Pennsylvania is the
originator of Positive
Psychology, which is the
scientific study of the
strengths and virtues that
enable individuals and
communities to thrive. In one of his famous studies, Seligman discovered that optimistic salesmen outsell
their more pessimistic counterparts by 37% and are twice as likely to not quit their jobs. So, optimism
improves performance and yields longevity.
Seligman also found in his studies that people’s explanatory style have a big impact on whether they give
up quickly or not. People with pessimistic explanatory styles see setbacks as permanent, pervasive, and
personal. An optimistic explanatory style is upbeat and sees setbacks as temporary and situational.
So, what does this have to do with climbing. Well, we can use this information to create a mindset with
the right dose of optimism that leads to optimal performance and can have us climbing and staying
psyched about climbing for as long as possible. Here are some tips to help you put this knowledge into
practice in your climbing.
1) Practice interrogative self-talk. When you are thinking about your next climb, rather than tell yourself
that you can do it, ask yourself if you are ready for it. Try listing 5 reasons why you are ready. This will
help you be/get prepared and give you the confidence needed to send it.

3. 2) Understand and monitor your positivity ratio. Go to Dr. Fredrickson’s website (http://positivityratio.com/)
and find out your positivity ratio. Are you between 3:1 and 10:1? You can track this over time to see
where you are. If you are too positive, consider what things are not going as well as you’d like and try and
understand why. If you are too negative, try reflecting on what is going well and being grateful for all that
is good in your life.
3) Work on your explanatory style. When a setback such as failing on a climb occurs ask yourself whether
the failure is permanent, pervasive, and personal. Convince yourself that it is not.
4) Recognize when you truly mess up. If you fail on a route because of lack of training or because you
lost focus, fess up. Think about how to fix that for next time. Remember, negative emotions provide us
critical negative feedback that keeps us growing and thriving.
I hope that you found this article useful and that you can put some of the knowledge in it to use in your
climbing.
What do you think?
About Don McGrath
Don McGrath created masterrockclimber.com to help climbers train much
better for rock climbing. This site was designed to share what Don McGrath
have discovered while climbing. With his experience in climbing he gives
you a wealth of training guidance, tips, and tools that will help you rapidly
and vastly enhance your rock climbing ability.
Please visit http://www.masterrockclimber.com/ to find out more about Don
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