What Is Mental Contrasting? Gabriele Oettingen Explains

A colorful drawing of a man sitting and thinking illustrates the question, "What is mental contrasting?"

What is mental contrasting? Do you want to turn your dreams into reality instead of just daydreaming about them? In Rethinking Positive Thinking, Gabriele Oettingen explains what mental contrasting is, presenting it as a powerful strategy that goes beyond positive thinking. By envisioning your desired future and then identifying obstacles in your present reality, you create productive tension and, ultimately, motivation. Keep reading to discover how mental contrasting can transform your approach to goal-setting and help you overcome the internal barriers that truly hold you back.

Positive Thinking & Motivation: Their Link Might Surprise You

A person with a thought bubble shaped like a smiley face illustrates the link between positive thinking and motivation

Why does daydreaming about success sometimes leave you less motivated to achieve it? Can harnessing both positive and negative thoughts create a more effective path to reaching your goals? Positive thinking and motivation have a complicated relationship. In her book Rethinking Positive Thinking, Gabriele Oettingen reveals how pleasant fantasies about future success can actually undermine your drive to accomplish your dreams. She offers a different approach. Keep reading to discover how you can transform feel-good daydreams into real-world achievements.

4 Effective Goal-Setting Techniques for Business or Personal Life

A smiling woman looking at a goal progress chart illustrates effective goal-setting techniques

Do you want to transform your business ideas into measurable successes? How can you create goals that motivate action rather than collecting dust in a forgotten document? In Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got, Jay Abraham shares effective goal-setting techniques to convert promising ideas into tangible results. He offers a framework for prioritizing ideas based on impact and feasibility before turning them into concrete objectives that guide you forward. Keep reading to discover a practical approach to achievement, whether in business or your personal life.

The Importance of a Routine (The Secret to Productivity)

The Importance of a Routine (The Secret to Productivity)

How can a routine help you be more productive? Why is mechanical attention important for those who get easily overwhelmed? The difference between Gloria Mark’s views on attention and those of traditional productivity experts is her emphasis on the value of mechanical attention. Mark’s book, Attention Span, shows that routine tasks requiring only mechanical attention are key to bolstering your mental reserves and, by extension, your productivity. Below, we’ll look at the importance of a routine in your daily life.

Why Is It So Hard to Focus? It’s Not Just Technology’s Fault

A woman finding it hard to focus and looking out the window during work

Why is it so hard to focus these days? Do we have an unlimited amount of mental energy to use? The biggest problem we face when trying to be productive is that the things that distract us seem limitless, especially now that the digital world has infiltrated every aspect of life. However, Gloria Mark’s book Attention Span says our devices aren’t entirely to blame. Let’s look at the real reason why you and so many others may find it hard to concentrate on simple tasks.

Creative Desperation: Lessons From Venus Flytraps & Apollo 13

A Venus flytrap plant illustrates creative desperation

Is your life missing those “aha!” moments of brilliant insight? What hidden force might unlock your most creative breakthroughs? In his book Seeing What Others Don’t, Gary Klein explores how our most innovative solutions often emerge through creative desperation—when impossible situations force us to abandon conventional thinking. Breakthrough thinking frequently happens when we’re backed into a corner. Read on to explore this fascinating path to innovation, from human problem-solving to the surprising evolutionary journey of a plant.

How Does Social Media Affect Attention Span? (Gloria Mark)

A woman scrolling on her computer, showing how social media affects attention span

Do you find yourself scrolling through social media for hours? How does social media affect attention span? While online algorithms sometimes direct us from one static website to another, Gloria Mark writes in Attention Span that the bulk of algorithmic attention control revolves around social media platforms. She says these sites sap away our focus by leaning on our desire for validation and our basic human nature. Keep reading to learn how sites like Instagram and TikTok take a toll on your ability to concentrate.

How to Increase Concentration Power: Find a Healthy Balance

A man working on his computer and increasing his concentration power at work

Are you ready to be more productive? How does working with distractions help you focus more? In Attention Span, Gloria Mark acknowledges that even though many external factors shape our behavior, we still retain some ability to choose how we act. You just need to learn how to take back most of the brainpower you use to concentrate. Read more to learn how to increase your concentration power, including when to surrender to distractions.

Laziness Does Not Exist: Book Overview (Devon Price)

A woman reading a book on a couch

Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you work, it’s never enough? What’s the book Laziness Does Not Exist about? Devon Price’s book Laziness Does Not Exist challenges the harmful belief that our productivity determines our worth. The book reveals how this toxic myth creates unrealistic expectations, damages our well-being, and teaches us to condemn ourselves and others for normal human limitations. Read more in our brief Laziness Does Not Exist book overview.

How to Build Resilience as a Leader to Overcome Challenges

A female manager wearing glasses who shows resilience as a leader

Does leading with confidence mean you never experience self-doubt? How can leaders maintain their composure while navigating through uncertain and challenging times? Jerry Colonna, in his transformative book Reboot, explores the vital components of resilience as a leader through personal stories and practical wisdom. His insights reveal how authentic leadership emerges from self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the courage to embrace vulnerability. Keep reading to discover how successful leaders transform their challenges into opportunities.