The paradox between creating your reality and letting things be

[lokariototal]

On one hand, the Buddha said "what you think, you become", in other words, through the power of our thoughts, we create/interpret of our own reality/experience.

On the other hand, according to buddhists, we cannot control our own thoughts, they just arise, and we are supposed to be with them, non-judgementally without trying to control them.

I find this to be a paradox.

My question is, how do we create or change our own reality, if on the other hand we are told that we are suppoused to just "be" with our thoughts without trying to control them?

Is there a place for optimism or positive thinking in Buddhism, or does buddhism denies this idea all together and advocates instead to be completelty neutral towards life?

I just want to live well and have a positive experience of life. That is all. But apparently, Buddhism seems to me like it's about being neutral (being non-judgemental), instead of positive or negative.

[Mindfullness]

This is such a great question! I wonder about this myself--it seems very contradictory.

[Dharmic Tui]

This is very similar to your other thread which I have supplied an answer to here:

http://www.vipassanaforum.net/forum/index.php/topic,2077.0.html