Some say that optimists have their rose colored glasses on.  Others say that they say the glass as half-full.  A third group says that optimists have their eyes wide-shut. 

Who is right?  Perhaps all of them.  Perhaps none of these three views.  It seems to me that the statements have enough truth that people see them as true, if that is what one wishes to do.  And there is enough evidence that people who wish to do so can see the statements as false as well…

Each of us does our best to live up (or down) to our own expectations. When we see ourselves as accomplished, we become accomplished.  If we see ourselves as creative, we become creative.  If we see ourselves as geniuses, and we become geniuses.  When we see ourselves in other ways we become those as well. 

Optimism is a self-fulfilling prophecy.  What is optimism?  What value does it have for us? 

Self-fulfilling prophecy 

Some will say that this is overly optimistic.  Even if one is
fooling oneself, a positive result is far more likely to be achieved if we have a positive outlook and see the dream as achievable than a negative one and see the mountain as insurmountable.  Barriers and glass ceilings of any
type evaporate, when we allow ourselves to dream, plan for success, and act on the dream.

As small children, we must learn to crawl before we walk and to walk before we run.  When we try to achieve a goal in any area that is new to us, we must return to childhood and learn to crawl all over again.

What is optimism?

Optimism is about our reaction, rather than objective data.  Optimism does not allow us to avoid struggles.  Instead, it carries us through the strugges.

We have choices.  When faced with challenges, we can bury our heads in the sand, or we can step up, stand out, and laugh in the face of our adversities.  That is a choice that each of us has.  It is the choice that optimists make.

What value is optimism?

Optimism allows us to get up and press forward, when so-called common sense suggests that we should give up and walk away.  Few things are accomplished on the first attempt…

When we are optimistic, we can focus on the goals that we are trying to achieve.  Optimism makes it easier for us to break the tasks down into “bite sized” pieces and execute, execute, execute.

In negotiation, optimism helps us be better advocates for our position.  This increases the chances that our position will “win the day,” as they say.

Optimism allows us to keep a positive outlook.  When one is positive, it is easier to explain our position to others.  We are able to justify helping others when our self-interest suggest that doing so  may not be in our best interest. 

When we maintain a positive outlook, others want to help us.  Think about someone who is always down.  While we may feel sorry for the other person or want to help the other person, how do we eventually react?

Filed by Coleen Davis at 7:15 am under Business Tips, Leadership, Networking, Tips for Students