Earl Nightingale tells us "we become what we think about."
In other words, we get more of what we focus our thoughts on. If we focus on what is good and what we are grateful for, we will get more of the same. If we focus our thoughts on what is negative, we will get more of that as well.
There is a philosophy of education which uses a similar concept. It is called "strength-based learning." If we focus on the area where a child has had success, the child will not only improve in this area, the child will develop confidence. The weaknesses of the student will then tend to improve due to this increased confidence.
Focusing on weaknesses, however, often leads to frustration and a decrease in effort. The child thinks she is not capable of learning and stops trying.
Perhaps this same concept can be applied to community building. For the last two years we have seen a social media phenomenon take place in our city called Hell Yeah Prince George, or HYPG. Co-founder Scott McWalter explains the philosophy behind his page, "Instead of constantly complaining about the city we live in, I suggest using this energy to speak towards what makes the City of Prince George truly incredible."
McWalter has combined positive thinking with phenomenal marketing savvy to create something unbelievable. Over one third of the population of Prince George belongs to the HYPG group on Facebook. Here people share stories of random acts of kindness in the city, accomplishments of citizens, and information about events going on. They also share pictures of the amazing natural wonders in and around the city, great service at restaurants, and calls out to citizens to help others in need. There are also contests and challenges, and any sort of good news that one can imagine.
Prince George has always been a wonderful place to live.
I recognized this when I first moved here in the 1980s and saw people greeting each other, pushing each other's cars out of snowbanks, and always being willing to lend a hand. What is different today is that HYPG has created a forum and given a voice to those with good news to spread. These stories then not only make other people feel good, they make them want to go out and do good as well.
If the concept of strength-based learning can be applied to civic communities, then Prince George will continue to build on the goodness of its citizens, and problems like crime and poverty will begin to diminish.
HYPG is a relatively new phenomenon. It will take time to measure the type and degree of impact it is having, but many citizens have commented that just looking at the page makes them feel better. It helps them to see the goodness and beauty that is all around in our northern community.
It is certainly conceivable that Hell Yeah pages will spring up in other communities all around the world. If we really do become what we think about, and we are thinking about the wonderful world we live in and the wonderful people in it, then we are indeed destined for a tremendous future.
