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25 February 2008, 19:21
Learn to look on the bright side by Dr. Mike Davison
Learn to look on the bright side...
Dear reader ,
Optimism is the ability to look at the brighter side of life and to maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity.
The ability to bounce back from disappointment.
I have some questions about optimism.
Optimism involves always believing that everything will turn out well. Right?
No! That is merely poor Reality Testing.
Optimism means always giving yourself pep talks - just keep saying positive things to yourself. Right?
No! First, you won't hear the pep talks after a short while because you know that they are phony. Second, you are in danger of hiding too much from real negatives that you need to notice and plan around.
Then what is Optimism, really?
You practice Optimism when you choose to view setbacks, downturns, and disappointments as temporary rather than permanent. Even if times are bad right now, you recognize that this need not be a permanent condition. Things can and probably will improve.
You practice Optimism when you choose to see misfortune as situational rather than pervasive. For example, your company is reducing its workforce and has let you go. While this may be a bad situation, it does not mean that you are an undesirable employee and will never work again.
You practice Optimism when you choose not to personalize bad events with statements like "Just my luck." "This always happens to me." "I have a black cloud over my life." "I always screw things up."
While optimists recognize that there are elements in a failed situation that they may not have been able to control, they are realistic about the aspects that they can control. If their performance in one of those aspects was poor, they take heart in the fact that it is within their control to do better next time.
Learn more about training your brain to think more optimistically from my show earlier this week.
www.BlogTalkRadio.com/todaysguest/2008/02/19/The-Science-of-Optimism.
from the desk Dr. Mike Davison .
Margarita Nomeikine.
ENJOY!.
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