PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA (University of the City of Manila) Intramuros, Manila College of Accountancy and Economics ADRIANO, JAMIE

ANGELA A. BSA II-3 2011-02002 JULY 24, 2012 PROF. GINA OPINIANO

Wishful Thinking: Escape from Reality or Too Much Optimism? Critical thinking is a skill that can be used and applied by anyone with an open mind and willingness to challenge his beliefs. However, there are some barriers that prevent people from using their critical thinking skills to its full extent due to excessive use of ideas or perspectives. One in particular is the principle of invalid reasoning, which can be experienced in wishful thinking. This is an act where conclusions or expectations are made to conform to ones desires. And personally, this barrier is something which greatly affects or influences my critical thinking. I am and I choose to be a positive person as much as possible in every situation I face. I do believe that whatever I choose to think and declare them, the whole universe will always conspire in my favor to do so. I choose to be optimistic as a declaration of my faith and trust in God that He will provide and answer my prayers. Also, this perspective of mine grew even stronger after I have watched a film entitled The Secret1 that teaches the Law of Attraction which I always put to practice. This, I believe can be clearly interpreted as optimism on my side, but I must admit that on some cases (trivial things, that is), I suffer from too much optimism and results on my frequent daydreaming, hence, declining my critical thinking. In some instances, due to my excessive wishful thinking, I do not get to focus on my subject matter and analyze or rationalize discussions in my various subjects because I get preoccupied by my wishful thinking and thus, decreasing my academic competence. There are times that I associate my wishful thinking with my dreams and frustrations that I always indulge in fantasies even though Im wide awake. This causes me to be physically present but mentally absent, and sometimes, I even choose to do so because I get all happy and excited as I imagine things happening in my life. I usually get my imaginations from fictional
1

New thought work by Rhonda Byrne that pivots on the notion of the Laws of Attraction: That is, think positively, and positive things will come to you.

works I have just read or watched and I fill in the place of my desired character or I imagine amazingly absurd circumstances which will lead me to my dream guy. And this, I believe, is my form of escape from reality. Indeed, there is a fine line between optimism and wishful thinking but there are times that I just cross the line because my desire overpowers my logical and critical thinking. As for my positive thinking on serious matters, I still choose to believe that great things will happen in my life by having faith, and this, of course, must be accompanied by appropriate actions. As for my strong hopes and desires which end up on my day dreams, I wish to overcome this barrier that engages me in simplistic and unrealistic thinking because wishing something to be true without taking actions is not a relevant reason for claiming that it will actually happen.