Where there's a way there must be human effort

I don't usually watch tabloid shows; I'm not interested in celebrity gossip, for the most part. I will occasionally catch a tidbit or two when I forget that the TV is on and one of those shows comes on. Today was one of those days.

Entertainment Tonight had on a segment about Patrick Swayze, of course, and had several celebrity reaction interviews. One of them was Terrence Howard.  His response to Swayze's diagnosis? He can will it away. The will can do anything we tell it to. Obviously, this pisses me off to no end. It's exactly like those people who believe that all you  need to do is think happy thoughts and happy things will happen to you. It's ridiculous and offensive and it is devoid of common sense.

The problem with believing that people can heal themselves or get good things if they only will it or think it is that you are saying that the people who are unable to do this are at fault for being sick, being victimized, having less than joyful lives. It's a classic blame the victim approach that someone who is not sick, has never been the victim of someone else believes because they can. They can because they are randomly luckier than others. It isn't will, it isn't positive thinking, it's dumb fucking luck. It is also the kind of thinking that leads to victimization itself; if you had only thought positively, you never would have been in the situation where I can take advantage of you! It's your fault you are and therefore not my responsibility if I take advantage of that. Sounds a bit like, "she was asking for it," doesn't it? You know what "the secret" really is? An excuse to act in any way you see fit because you earned it with your happy thoughts.  Nice.

I am not claiming that we don't have responsibility for the way our lives are or the consequences of our actions. Nor am I claiming that positive thinking is useless. What I am saying is that willing things to happen or positive thinking can't bend natural law. Positive thinking will help you through anything, of course, but it does not cure cancer, it does not give you the house on the beach, it does not exert a will of its own. It helps you, and what's wrong with that? What's wrong with accepting something for what it is, not expecting it to be more than it can be, and using it in the best way you can? I can't even begin to imagine the pain and feelings of betrayal and loss people must feel when they realize that all of their willing and positive thinking has not gotten them the results they expected. And what do the positive willing people say to this? You didn't will it hard enough.  A victim of genocide? It's because they were in a state of fear. Not, of course, because of some outrageous political struggle and the unfortunate and common belief that one side is better than the other to the depths of their very humanity. Noooo, can't be that.

There is nothing wrong with positive thinking or willing good things to happen. I would go so far as to say that both are essential for a happy, prosperous life. After all, if the intent behind your actions isn't good, what value do your actions or their consequences have? Positive thinking is very important in life and something we should all aspire to, but it is only what we, as humans, make of it. It cannot act on its own as if it were a force that could effect change as any mover can. Can a rock propel itself? Can sadness take physical form? No. What's so wrong with acknowledging that we are able to will ourselves to act or think a certain way? Isn't that good enough?

Furthermore, if you believe in that positive thinking is somehow animate, why would you ever seek medical intervention or advice? Why would you go to school? Why would you do anything to better your life? After all, you only need to will it. Go into a dark room and will, will, will as haaaaaaard as you can! Presto! you're healthy, hale and happy. That may be a deconstructed simplification, but it certainly is the path you travel down when you decide that all you need to get what you want and need is to will it so. That only works in the Matrix.