Chief Growth Officer Bo Parfet on the Power of Positive Thinking

By Mary Smith

For Bo Parfet, the power of positive thinking isn’t a cliché; it’s a superpower. As a leader and prominent impact investor, he’s seen first-hand how positive thinking can transform businesses and the world in real, meaningful ways. But what does it actually mean to think positively, and what does science say about it? Bo Parfet breaks down the main tenets behind the philosophy of positive thinking and unravels precisely why it’s so powerful. Understanding the why behind positive thinking

Our thoughts are powerful things, and how we think and view the world can greatly impact the reality we create for ourselves. For example, the classic case of making a mistake or taking a risk and failing: Those who think negatively will likely be hard on themselves and potentially give up on whatever goal they were trying to achieve, while those who think positively will see the situation as a learning opportunity to grow from.

And it extends beyond simply shifting your mindset. Learning how to embrace optimism and positivity can impact your success in business and your individual health. This is something Bo Parfet has found especially true in his life and career. The more you can think positively, the easier it becomes to weather any obstacles in your way and come out stronger on the other side. In business, that kind of mindset can be the thing that ends up differentiating you from your competitors.

As mentioned before, positive thinking can also improve our health. Several studies have found that those who practice optimism enjoy reduced stress levels and lower rates of depression. In addition, training yourself to approach life through a positive lens can reduce your risk of a variety of illnesses and diseases, including heart disease and cancer, and can even increase your lifespan.

The stories we tell ourselves

So how do we begin to reap the benefits of positive thinking, especially if it’s not something that comes naturally to us? It starts with learning to recognize the stories we tell ourselves. We, humans, are storytellers, and that extends to the narratives we create within our minds. Oftentimes, the stories we tell ourselves are to help us feel more confident in our decisions or to help us feel like we’re doing the right thing. They remind us of our goals and commitments and can prompt self-reflection when those goals or commitments don’t line up with our actions in the real world.

Bo Parfet has found that the more we’re able to recognize the patterns in the stories we tell ourselves, the easier it becomes not only to align those stories with reality but to recognize when stories are hurting rather than helping ourselves. When we learn to recognize negative self-talk or narratives, we can intentionally chart a new course without letting ourselves fall into guilt, anger, or resignation traps.