There are many different things that people mean by "positive thinking". This article seems to confuse prematurely patting yourself on the back with believing

There are many different things that people mean by "positive thinking". This article seems to confuse prematurely patting yourself on the back with believing it's possible to accomplish your goals. Consider a less radical interpretation- something more along the lines of optimism vs cynicism. Then you can easily see the benefits of positive thinking. Imagining that you can make a difference when pursuing your goal leads you into all sorts of events and skills that a negative state of mind would keep you from. In my mind, it's a question of what tools to apply to different layers of abstraction. Like, you want to overall have a positive, optimistic outlook. Then, use negative thinking when double-checking your work or planning for contingencies.