Josh TrentIdentity Transformation Architect and award winning Host of the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast—a decade-strong show with over 750 episodes and 15M downloads.

Positive thinking doesn’t work! #podcast #toxicpositivity #positivevibes

9 Oct 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:45

A short podcast-style YouTube video conversation (hosts Josh Trent and guest Peter Crone) arguing that positive thinking and surface-level affirmations often fail because they don't remove underlying limiting beliefs. Crone uses metaphors (a fist representing “I'm not good enough,” a mirror, and an arrow/hitting glass) to explain that beliefs produce consistent life patterns, so affirmations without addressing the root belief can reinforce the existing belief rather than change it.

Positive thinking has been so overused, and it's such a almost narcissistic tool of a teacher to teach positive thinking. Positive thinking that hits a belief is like an arrow hitting a glass.
So I want you to imagine you.
Have a fist.
In front of you, and the fist is, I'm not good enough. And somebody tells.
You to do affirmations.
And you stand in front of the mirror going, I'm good enough. I'm good enough. I'm good enough. I'm good. You have to get.
Rid of this.
Before you can feel good enough.
You can't put.
Something where something already.
Exists, number one. Number two.
The only person who stands in front of the mirror going, I'm good enough. I'm good enough.
I'm good enough, is somebody who believes what, that they're not you and I.
Are not in front of the mirror doing that. So it's like.
Reinforcing the belief. Here's why beliefs stay with us. Our lives are consistent with our beliefs. So if you create your beliefs and your beliefs create your life, what does that make you?