OptimismSoup.com

Health Care Plan Losing in Polls on Facebook!

While the media appears to be saying the opposite, the TRUTH seems to still be winning!

Here is what the Media wants you to believe:

US NEWS… Poll Shows Strong Support for Obama Health Care Reforms -“In fact, half of the 2,491 adults surveyed in the nationwide poll said they either “strongly” or “somewhat” supported the president’s plan”…

Yet 400,000 plus say NO.

It’s all in the question… Do I “somewhat” support Obama’s Health Care reform?… Yes. It is clear that our Health care system needs some adjusting. But do I support a Universal Government Run Health Care Program?… No.

Do I believe that its good to provide health care for the elderly?… Yes.

Do I believe that money for health care should be forced out of the pockets of businesses?… No.

But still, what is even more enlightening about the above poll and the conflict it shows with US News is that “We the People” don’t have to buy into what the media is telling us.  Don’t just believe what you see on TV.  Don’t just openly believe what someone tells you…

Funny that seems to be more of pessimistic view.  =)

But in reality it spurs my optimism to hear the masses in the US speak up and shout out about wanting “Freedom”.  What spurs my optimism is to be reminded that “We have a choice.”  We can choose for ourselves what is right or wrong.  I loose hope and optimism when people stop choosing.  When people give up.

Optimism is a choice.  I don’t have a good day… I make it a good day.

Now that makes for a good Friday!

Thomas B. Quotes, Uncategorized choice, language, optimism, pessimistic

Is there a difference between being optimistic and being confident? I have read from authors on optimism that the two are different.  That they should be identified as unique.

How do these statements differ:

I am confident that my business will do extremely well over the next year.

I am optimistic that my business will do extremely well over the next year.

Optimism seems to be based on hope. It seems to be more of a state of mind, an attitude, or a perspective based on assumptions.  Confidence seems to be based on one’s ability or perceived ability.  It seems that a confident individual relies on their own making to reach their desired end. But could the words and the state of mind be interchangeable?

I believe that my optimism is connected to my confidence.  I struggle to seperate the two.  In fact, I am less optimistic in areas where I have little to no control of the out come.

When I state that the good guy always wins, I am that good guy.  When I am not that good guy, but look to another to be that good guy, I must place my personal experience on the line.  I trust in him as I would trust in myself, if he is that good guy. If that individual has a history of being a good guy then I am optimistic.  Still rooted in my own experience and confidence. I believe that anyone can learn to sing, to dance, to paint, to write, if that individual puts in the required time and energy.  Not simply because of hope but because that is human nature.

Now consider this statement:

I am confidient and optimistic that my business will do extremely well over the next year.

Doesn’t seem to work does it?  They are either too similar or too conflicting.

Thomas B. Questions human nature, Optimism and Confidence

“No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.”- Helen Keller

What a wonderful person Helen Keller was.  What a challenging life she lead.  Yet always the optimist.  Great Quote.

Thomas B. Quotes Helen Keller, optimism, Quote

How much effect do the words you use have on your optimism?

This is a question that I struggle with.  I tend to discredit that your words drastically effect your outlook on life.  For example, I will often say “I’m swamped.” In general, this term is a negative, victim mentality, life stinks, kind of phrase. But, I have said it ever since I was a waiter, where I first heard the phrase.  And where being swamped meant I was busy, which meant more money. I jokingly add with a smile, “I’m swamped… which means job security.” So does that phrase really effect my outlook on life?  Can we say something negative jokingly, sarcastically, or unbiased and it not effect me? Or is just how we internalize a phrase?

Just the other day, Jeremiah Cundiff, a life coach and business coach, pointed out that agreeing with individuals who use negative speech, adds negativity to one’s own life by embracing the other individual’s negativity.  So along this thought process it would seem that just allowing or agreeing with anther’s negative attitude is a downer on one’s own optimism.

I am still a little skeptical though as to how much these play on words really effects one’s total outlook.

My father claims that I shouldn’t focus on “Not having debt”.  According to him, if I focus on not having debt, then I am actually inviting debt in.  However, I disagree with this extent of negative speech.  I set a goal to “Never go into debt for a car.”  So I have always paid cash for my automobiles and “Never gone into debt for a car.”  To me its a neutral point if I set the goal as “Never go into debt.” or, “Always pay cash.”

Still, I would say that a hypnotist would argue that the exact phrase does indeed matter.  If they can hypnotize someone with their words alone then words do carry a significant weight.  Even more so, if they can create “trigger words” then according to a hypnotist the exact word counts. But that’s hypnotism and brain washing right?

Honestly how much of difference does it really make if you say “The glass is half full.” vs “The Glass is half empty.” Is that really a concrete test of your optimism?

So I remain semi-split on the optimism and language.

Thomas B. Questions difference, language, optimism, test, words

America is still the land of the free and the home of brave.  I am proud to be an American.  Do I view America as better then every other nation in the world?  Define better.  I do not put myself above another, but I do love myself.  I love my country.  America is the best place I have found for me.  My lack of experience?.. perhaps. But this is my home. This is what I know.  And until I know better this is the best.  As the credited original optimism philosopher, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who believed that we live in the best of all possible worlds.  By default, I know no other worlds, so this is the best world that I know of. Interestingly enough I hope for believe that this world could be better…. perhaps my hopes hamper my optimism. =)

Despite the fact the unemployment just hit 9.3%, despite the fact that I may disagree with some of the local and national politicians, despite the fact that the huge businesses like GM and AIG are failing, I still believe in this great nation.  I believe in the people, the backs upon which this nation sits, to be good, strong, and reliant. I believe in the majority.  I trust this nation to stand firm.

So I am Grateful for this nation, its freedoms, and most of all its people.

Happy 4th of July!

Thomas B. Uncategorized

Is survival of the fittest an optimistic point of view?

When God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, evolution kicked into high-gear.  Adam and Eve either evolved to the point where they could survive off of the land or they would perish; and God didn’t give them a severance package, there was no safety net for Adam and Eve.  However, If you look around you, there is evidence in every corner that our progenitors did survive, they did evolve and that we continue to evolve.

In the mid to late 19th century, a philosophy of “Survival of the Fittest” began to flourish.  Essentially, Survival of the Fittest means what it says and stems from the belief that those who do not survive were unfit to live.

Before I continue, let me tell you a short story.  I recently became a certified scuba diver.  I appreciated the depth of knowledge and experience my scuba instructor imparted to his students; of which I was one.  He taught us in detail the steps of gear preparation and maintenance, dive preparation and equipment use in the water, he taught us safety procedures at the surface and underwater, he taught us hand signals for underwater use and he taught us to never dive alone.

Scuba diving, he taught us, is the only sport you do on life support.

Perhaps you think I am crazy for even wanting to scuba dive, perhaps you think scuba diving is too extreme or perhaps you think scuba diving is just kind of boring.  In scuba diving and in life in general, one wrong move and your number or mine could be up. The fact of the matter is, any one of us could be called to meet our maker at any time and each of us knows someone whose number came too soon. Whichever way you feel about scuba diving, sky diving, canyoneering or any other extreme sport, you have to admit that life is fragile; life is fleeting. We must make the most of life; we must go and do!

In the centuries leading up to the 19th century, health, wellness and medicine were not well understood. Diseases and death were more common yet understood less.  So, in the 19th century, survival of the fittest meant people could live; that there was a way.  Survival of the fittest meant people had more control over their destinies.  Survival of the fittest is a motivating factor; if I do this, I should see this result.  If he can do it, I can do it and maybe even a little better. Survival of the fittest is only exclusive if you allow it to be. So, we continue to grow; we continue to evolve.  We see others succeeding and and we know we can succeed too. 

To all of you optimists out there be the fittest, push through the difficult times in your life, follow the examples of your heroes and then become the example.

To each of you, I say SURVIVE!

Be optimistic,
Brian

BrianF beginnings, success

Plan for the worst, expect the best.

Is that in line with an optimist?  Please add your thoughts.  I will revisit this in a few days.

Thomas B. Questions