Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist?
I have been giving some thought lately to optimism and pessimism. Basically, these are attitudes. Attitudes that shape and formulate our entire existence. I mean, have you ever met a happy pessimist? Of course not.
In short, our optimism or pessimism is this:
The way we interpret the past
The way we experience and view the present
The way we imagine the future
Have you given much thought about how your attitude, whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, affects you business, organization or school? Have you thought about how it affects you personally? And what about the team you are a part of?
What is optimism? It is a belief that things in our past were good for us, even if that means they were hard and taught us lessons. It is also the belief that things will be better in the future.
Here are some contrasts between optimism and pessimism and how they affect us:
Optimism breathes life into you each day Pessimism drains you
Optimism helps you to take needed risks Pessimism plays it safe and never accomplishes much
Optimism improves those around you Pessimism drags them down
Optimism inspires people to great heights Pessimism deflates people to new lows
There is only one way that optimism and pessimism are the same and that is that they are both self-fulfilling. If you are an optimist, you will generally find that good things happen to you. And if you are a pessimist, you will find yourself in the not-so-good situations more often than not.
So can a person just become an optimist? Yes! We can choose to look at the world any way we want to. We can choose to look at the world and think the worst, or we can tell ourselves the good things about each situation. As you find yourself looking at your enterprise, begin to view it through the eyes of an optimist, and you will reap the rewards listed above, and so will the people around you.
There are tremendous benefits to being an optimist, as stated above. But there are some pessimists out there who will say, "But that isn't realistic." I say "Who cares?" If things go awry, at least I have spent my time beforehand enjoying life and not worrying about it. And, being an optimist, I would view the "negative" situation as an opportunity to grow and learn. So I can even look forward to my failures because they will be stepping stones, and learning tools to be applied to my future success.
Have you ever met a successful pessimist? Become an optimist and see your world change before your eyes!
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
 Google News Updated : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:25:11 GMT South Carolina survives 4 interceptions - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - COLUMBIA, SC (AP) - Steve Spurrier just can't avoid quarterback controversies. South Carolina's coach had intended since April for junior Tommy Beecher to lead the Gamecocks. NC State gets off to a rough start Locker Room Report: Tom O'Brien Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:31:00 GMT Storm could postpone Republican convention - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - By Maeve Reston, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer BLOOMINGTON, MINN. -- As the political spotlight shifts to the upcoming Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. McCain camp closely watching Gustav GOP could delay convention if Gustav hits Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:25:11 GMT Scientists Reprogram Adult Cells' Function - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Rob Stein Through a series of painstaking experiments involving mice, the Harvard biologists pinpointed three crucial molecular switches that, when flipped, completely convert a common cell in the pancreas into the more precious insulin-producing ... Researchers Report Advances in Cell Conversion Technique Diabetes researchers convert pancreas cells to produce insulin Publ.Date : Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:41:39 GMT Concerns remain as salmonella outbreak comes to an end - Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times - The produce industry says the FDA search for the source, which shifted suspicion from tomatoes to jalapeño and serrano peppers, shattered consumer confidence and cost it millions. Salmonella Outbreak Is Said to Be Over Feds: Worst of salmonella is over Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:43:58 GMT Clark to speak with Minister over fraud claims - ABC Online
ABC Online - By New Zealand correspondent Kerri Ritchie New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark is under increasing pressure to sack her Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters, who is being investigated over undeclared political donations. Peters steps down from Government NZ foreign minister under pressure to resign Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:48:29 GMT NBC Rules Wednesday Night - New York Times New York Times - By BENJAMIN TOFF; Compiled by Julie Bloom “America’s Got Talent” helped NBC in the ratings on Wednesday, making the network No. Obama's breathtaking show transcended politics Ratings dip on DNC's night 3 Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:00:29 GMT A Georgia School System Loses Its Accreditation - New York Times
New York Times - By ROBBIE BROWN ATLANTA - A county school system in metropolitan Atlanta on Thursday became the nation’s first in nearly 40 years to lose its accreditation, and the governor removed four of its school board members for ethics violations. Clayton schools’ fears are realized Group: Troubled Ga. district loses accreditation Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:08:34 GMT Add RSS Feeds to My Website |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... 1. Where do I start to create a new life?There... Read More One day, a young man was cleaning out his late... Read More James 2: 17?faith by itself, if it is not accompanied... Read More "Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what... Read More We all have excuses as to why we can't do... Read More (Excerpted from The Power of Ambition series)What is the origin... Read More How many times have you heard or read that words... Read More How quickly we forget. We are only a few weeks... Read More From the 'What You Need to Succeed' SeriesEvery once in... Read More Where do you want to be in a year? In... Read More Everyone wants something in life, love, money, success, recognition ...... Read More (Excerpted from "Building Your Network Marketing Business" CD)Capital in your... Read More There are a number of techniques to help you stop... Read More Doesn't it just burn you up when you have just... Read More "A man who has nothing to die for is not... Read More Inside of every one of us is the desire to... Read More Some people, after they reach their mid and upper adult... Read More Building Energy Around your Investment!For a century or more men... Read More Try this exercise. Take a sheet of paper and list... Read More I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at... Read More Would you like to feel and function like age 40... Read More We can all get in a rut from time to... Read More Several years ago, my husband introduced me to some potential... Read More Have you ever had an accident?Do you value your personal... Read More We're all aware of how important teamwork is and how... Read More
Adsense
websites
About Creating a New Life
Keeping Your Eyes Wide Open: A Letter to a Grandson
Ready, Set, Action!
Ability, Motivation, and Attitude
Make Up Excuses Why You Can
Ambitiously Pursuing Your Own Self
Words Have Power
Forgotten Your New Years Resolutions Already? How To Get Back On Track
Success: Its Really Pretty Simple
Decide
Getting What You Really Want
A Dollar and Some Ambition
7 Magical Ways To Stop Procrastination
Who are they to say it cant be done?
Dont You Quit!
Avoid This Tendency And Youll Press Beyond Your Limits!
Quit Pretending - You Have To Live Whats In You To Succeed
The Magic of Success is Actually a Law Set in Motion. Finding it is Quite Simple
Stop Holding Yourself Back
Maintaining Your Motivation
Ten Sure-Fire Rules To Put Old On Hold By At Least 25 Years
Self-Improvement-Inspiration: How to Exit Your Own Rat Race
Pride and Prejudice Can Be Healed and Melted Away
Personal Safety: How To Avoid Accidents And Live A Safe, Longer & Happy Life
Are You the Motivator
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Life Issues Pt.2 - Against All Odds
Against all odds. I think that should be the motto... Read More
6 Simple Steps To Accelerating your Learning
What is Accelerated learning?Simply put, accelerated learning is the ability... Read More
How to Change Your Negative Reality
It is often taken for granted that the reality tomorrow... Read More
Motivating Yourself To Take Action Daily
Daily action towards a goal is the fastest way to... Read More
How Much Fight Is In You?
"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my... Read More
A Simple Motivation Technique For Massive Success
Want to hear about a simple & effective motivation technique?... Read More
The Top Ten Strategies to Employ When You Feel Like Quitting
Ever feel like quitting? "Are you kidding?" you ask, "A... Read More
Rut Busting
IntroductionWordNet defines a rut as a groove or furrow (especially... Read More
7 Magical Ways To Stop Procrastination
There are a number of techniques to help you stop... Read More
One Last Month to Make it Count!
Can you believe it, summer is almost over. Did you... Read More
Wherever you Go - There you Are
Wherever you go, there you are. This is the title... Read More
What Once Was - Ain?t No More
Rather than beat around the bush and try to lead... Read More
Mindfulness and Birthdays: Surprising Moments
The first week of May is a big birthday time... Read More
Stop Procrastination - Just do it!
What stops you from 'getting things done?'Have you ever started... Read More
Motivation; 5 Steps to Get the Changes You Want
Q: I just read your column in today's' Greensboro News... Read More
Spring! Time for Love and New Beginnings
Prepare, prepare, prepare! The horizon screams of spring and the... Read More
Are You the Motivator
We're all aware of how important teamwork is and how... Read More
Commit To Applying Lessons Learned
When growing up as a child, the concept of learning... Read More
The Top Six Ways to Stay Motivated
I receive many emails from people that basically ask the... Read More
Do Yourself A Favor--Forgive
"Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with... Read More
Lights are Off and No One is Home
The other day I was on my way home, and... Read More
Make The Most Of Today
"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at... Read More
If Theres Money in a Dead Mouse...
My 4 year old son was very excited. I had... Read More
The Seven Keys to Motivation
Motivation. It's a complicated subject that is studied by many... Read More
Motivation - How to Design a Life
"Have you ever felt like you've become the worst possible... Read More
Motivation |