Republished by
Resources For Attorneys
The following article Intelligent Optimism Wins In Today's World was authored by Eileen McDargh and is republished in this directory with the author's permission. This directory is listed as service to attorneys, lawyers and the internet community.
Intelligent Optimism Wins In Today's World
By: Eileen McDargh
The reality of today's world seems to leave little room for
optimism. Almost every news story can lead because it does
bleed. We hear of critical food shortages in Africa, daily gang
deaths on city streets, the profiteering from child pornography,
and the climatic disasters prompted by global warming. Health
care costs move up faster than a hummingbird in flight and more
children now spout profanities as a regular part of speech.
With such negativity, no wonder a 2004 U.S. government survey
found that depression afflicts one in 10 adults 14 days a month
or more.
You probably get depressed just reading the opening paragraph.
But wait! There is hope. Not the cock-eyed optimism that
became fodder for a song from the musical South Pacific, but
rather what psychologists in France are calling "intelligent
optimism." Such optimism does not deny the reality of today's
world, but rather seeks to LEARN how to fashion a life amid such
difficulties. Martin Seligman, the psychologist who had made
optimism and happiness his life's work, would agree with the
French: optimism can be taught.
Consider these basic steps:
(1) Focus on what you can control. Don't get carried away by
circumstances you cannot change. You might not change global
warming but you can control your energy consumption. You can't
stop the downsizing in your company but you can arm yourself
with marketable skills.
(2) Reframe the event so that you are not a victim. There is
always another way to view a situation. The flight cancellation
that caused me to miss (and forfeit) a major engagement was not
"planned" to "get" me. It just was. My choice is to figure out
what I can do to help the current client and what I will put in
the place of the cancelled work.
(3) Think "enough". When we concentrate on what we don't have,
we miss all the many things we do have. The truth of the matter
is that if you are reading this article, you do have enough
computer power. You do have enough intelligence. You do have
enough time.
(4) Cultivate optimistic responses. Like a farmer tending a
field, optimism will never grow unless it is watered, fed, weeded
and nourished. We all have days in which negativity can take
over. And, sometimes, that is a WISE response because it keeps
us grounded in reality. Just make sure it is reality and not the
imagination making extraordinary leaps into conjecture. Weed
out that conjecture. Ask what you can DO to see a result that
gives you a sense of power. If we don't cultivate such
intelligent optimism, be aware of reality and willing to find
options, then we might do what Alexander Graham Bell warned.
"Stare so long at the closed door we fail to see the one that is
opening."
(5) Remember the power of generations. Children of depressed
parents are more prone to depression. Children of optimists are
more prone to be optimists. What do you choose to pass along?
Even if your parents were negative, you can break the cycle with
stopping, freeze-framing a situation, listening to the negative
self talk, and then literally giving yourself a different
message. Yes, this takes practice but you can make it a habit
if you work it over time.
Ultimately, intelligent optimists understand that change and
chaos are given. They know that "this too shall pass". In the
meantime, they CHOOSE to take whatever action they can within
their own sphere of influence and then settle back. It is enough.
(c) 2005, McDargh Communications. Publication rights granted to
all venues so long as article and by-line are reprinted intact
and all links are made live.
About the Author
Named by Executive Excellence Magazine as one of the top 100
thought leaders in business, Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE authored
one of the first books on work/life balance. Numerous books and
articles later, Eileen serves the meetings industry as a popular
international keynoter and on the Board of Directors of the
National Speakers Association. You can find products and
services offered by Eileen at http://www.EileenMcDargh.com.
|
This article was posted on September 10, 2005
|
For more information and articles on self improvement see Self Improvement Articles From Resources For Attorneys, for other legal or lifestyle articles see the Article Index From Resources For Attorneys or for other lifestyle resources see Lifestyle Resources
The opinions, statements and information contained and expressed in the foregoing article are solely those of the author. No position for or against, agreeing with or disagreeing with anything contained in said article is taken by Resources For Attorneys.com
or The Lifestyle Directory From Resources For Attorneys.com. We do not assume or accept any liability for the use of the information contained herein. This article is published solely as a service to attorneys, lawyers and the internet community. Anyone who does not accept this disclaimer is not authorised to read or use this article in any way.
about resources for attorneys resources for attorneys home submit an article
report bad links contact us
Page Set Up ©Copyright 2006-2009 Resources For Attorneys.com. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
|