Category Archives: Optimism

Optimism doesn’t wait on facts

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“Optimism doesn’t wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time.”

—Norman Cousins, 20th Century American journalist

Image from Unsplash by Peggy Anke

Where do you stand on the spectrum of optimism to pessimism in your daily pursuits?

I’d rather be an optimist that is sometimes wrong than a pessimist that is always right.

Beyond your own self-assessment, consider taking a close look at the people in your personal and professional communities. Who are the people that see the hopeful prospects of good things ahead, versus the black hatters who see only doom and gloom?

EXERCISE:

What issues in your life would benefit most from a healthy dose of optimism?  Where are you wasting too much time looking at the half empty aspects of your days?

 

With a new day comes new strength and new thoughts.

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“With a new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”

—Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States 1933–1945

Image from Unsplash by Dyu-Ha

A few weeks ago my wife, daughter, and grandchildren took a road trip back to Michigan to reconnect with some of our closest friends. Even with a rooftop carrier there was simply no room for me in the little SUV.

This “bachelor time,” as they called it, allowed me to do as I pleased, including binging a Netflix show called Alone.

Now in its eighth season, this reality program places ten expert survivalists in some of the most remote places on the planet to carve out a way of life without any human interactions except for periodic medical checks.

It was surprising to note how with all their adversities including loneliness, starvation, and many real dangers—including grizzly bears—most participants held out far longer than even they expected.

EXERCISE:

How does waking up each morning help you think and act with new strength and optimism about the day ahead?

Friday Review: Optimism

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FRIDAY REVIEW: OPTIMISM

Are you an optimist or a pessimist, or a little bit of both? Here are a few optimism-related posts you may have missed.

 

“The optimist already sees the scar over the wound; the pessimist sees the wound underneath the scar.”

 

 

 

“Complaining is Draining.”

 

 

 

 

“I have hope and I’m not afraid to use it.”

 

 

 

“Your ‘I Can’ is more important than Your I.Q.”

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“Your ‘I Can’ is more important than your I.Q.”

—Robin Sharma, Author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari series

Image of the book cover of "The Little Engine that Could"

The Little Engine that Could is an American fairy tale that became widely known in the 1930s. Through an online poll of teachers, The National Education Association rated it as one of the Top 100 books for children, because of its key message of the importance of optimism and hard work.

The story’s signature phrase, I Think I Can is a key memory I have from childhood on the importance of self belief and self determination. My wife Wendy and I did our best to instill this concept in both our children.

EXERCISE:

Where and with whom would a bunch more “I can” and “I know you can” statements support greater achievement and life satisfaction in your personal and professional communities?

Here is a short video if you wish to recapture the memory or share it with someone you love.

Optimist Someone who figures that taking a step backward

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“Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a Cha-Cha.”

—Robert Brault, Freelance American Writer

Image of a couple doing latin dance

Image from Unsplash by Isaiah McClean

As an optimist, I see life as a dance in which we all play a part in the magnificent miracle of living.

If we slow down a bit to observe our surroundings, and even our inner worlds, we will note different rhythms and cycles of give and take, up and down, back and forth. Perhaps it is these cha-cha’s of life that keep things in balance and simply bring workability to our world.

EXERCISE:

Where and how can you more fully recognize and appreciate the steps backwards in life as integral and important aspects of a happy life?

Friday Review: Optimism

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FRIDAY REVIEW: OPTIMISM

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Here are a few optimism-related posts you may have missed. Click the links to read the full message.

“The optimist already sees the scar over the wound; the pessimist sees the wound underneath the scar.”

 

 

 

 

“An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?”

 

 

 

“Optimism is essential to achievement, and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.”

 

 

 

Optimism is a kind of heart stimulus

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“Optimism is a kind of heart stimulus. The Digitalis of Failure.”

—Elbert Hubbard, 18th Century American Writer

Image of a gallon jug of Optimism

Image form Pinterest

Digoxin is a drug extracted from Digitalis Lanata, a plant found primarily in Eastern Europe. It is used to treat heart conditions.

Consider how you or those around you define Failure. What if it were akin to a heart condition that could be treated effectively with a drug called Optimism? You’d probably keep a ready supply by your bedside, in your pocket or purse.

How would sprinkling it over yourself or those around you be just the cure to relieve the potential failures of life?

EXERCISE:

How can you more fully and generously share your most hopeful and optimistic qualities and characteristics?

Where can you use it to heal and strengthen your own heart, and the hearts of others? How can you use it to help yourself and others bounce back from the setback and failures that come along?

Friday Review Perspective

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FRIDAY REVIEW: PERSPECTIVE

Our perspective can change in an instant. Here are some perspective-related posts you may have missed. Click to read the full message.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

 

 

 

 

“The optimist already sees the scar over the wound; the pessimist sees the wound underneath the scar.”

 

 

 

“There are people who would love to have your bad days.”

 

 

 

 

 

A Pessimistic General

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“I never saw a pessimistic General win a battle.”

—Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th President of the United States

Image of Dwight D. Eisenhower

What battles are you fighting in your personal or professional lives? Along with optimal training and the best equipment possible, Eisenhower advises us to bring a “Can Do,” optimistic attitude to win the day.

All students of leadership would agree that articulating a hopeful and positive future is essential to engender the buy-in and alignment of our troops, family, and teams.

If the phrase, “What we think about comes about” is true, who would ever follow a reluctant, half-hearted, pessimistic leader anywhere? After all, they aren’t even sure they want to go themselves.

EXERCISE:

Where and in what ways can you be an optimistic “General,” leading yourself and others within your communities to a better future?

Friday Review: Optimism

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FRIDAY REVIEW: OPTIMISM

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Here are a few optimism-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full message.

image of a candle burning

“An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?”

 

 

 

image of water down the drain

 

“Complaining is Draining.”

 

 

 

image of "Life's Little Instruction Book"

“Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.”