If we focus too much on what we have lost or what we could loose than we will miss the win-win that still remains.

Optimists are often ridiculed for not being realistic. They are accused of putting on rose colored glasses and then thinking everything is just rosy. I believe that individuals who focus on what has gone wrong and what can go wrong are in truth do not see things for what they really are.

As Henry Ford once said “those that say it can’t be done need to get out of the way of those that are doing it.”

An optimist sees things as they really can be. An optimist can create what seems impossible by simply being open to what is possible. An optimist takes every step he can toward the desired out come even when he does not know exactly how to get there knowing that the closer he gets the more clear the path will be.

I am grateful for those individuals that were able to move past common knowledge to create the impossible. Flight, the man on the moon, a cell phone, and still there is more to come.

Get your healthy dose of optimism today.

***Please share your thoughts and ideas.  I believe that sharing is a fundamental part of loving. Therefore, if you love optimism than share.

Is optimism a choice?

While many argue that optimism is a choice, and even doctors may suggest through research that optimism is a choice, I stand to differ.  One cannot simply wake up one day and say I am an optimist.  Individuals can’t just make one singular choice and become an optimist.  No I believe real optimism isn’t achieved on a singular choice.

As Mark Twain once penned the phrase by words of his beloved character,

“You cannot pray a lie.” - Huckleberry Finn

Reality hits a would be optimist when they find that their hopes and dreams of a brighter future are being destroyed by their actions at present.  One cannot ignore reality. If someone chooses to act in a way that damages themselves and their future and then projects a false belief that all is okay, they are ultimately living a lie.  Perhaps they seem blissful in their optimistic ignorance, yet that bliss is shallow and that river will run dry.

Optimism is not A choice.  Optimism is many choices. Optimism is a choice made daily and some days hourly. Optimism is based on how we live our lives as a whole.  Yes, it is within our power to choose optimism and to choose a better life.  But that choice is simply a forerunner.  If that choice is not followed by steps,  if the choice is not followed by actions, then we are praying and hoping a lie.

I believe that I choose to be an optimist everyday.  My freedom to act, to build, to create, to direct myself, my mind, my body is the source of my optimism.  Yes, I do choose optimism.  I live so that I am happy.  I live so that I am healthy.  My final hope and optimism lies in my belief that despite my inperfections now, someday I will be perfect.  If Job and Jeremiah can be deemed perfect men then I too can become a perfect man.

Choose to be optimistic.  Let your actions  support your optimism.  Let your failures support you optimism by rising each time you fall and continuing to rise to higher planes.

I hope not to discourage those that want to make the choice of optimism.  It is a good choice.  I hope to encourage those that will choose and haven chosen optimism to continue to choose optimism.  And to make that choice a reality so you become optimistic.

“I choose optimism.  I act.  I am an optimist.”

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.

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.

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.