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The world can be an ugly place, I get that. So much is unfair in the world and sometimes you feel as if you can never get a break. The world is against you, it’s all one big conspiracy.
But you don’t let that get you down. Because you’re an optimist, and you always remain hopeful. No matter the scenario. Rain or shine, you’re always smiling. Who cares what the numbers look like, you know you’ll come out ahead. As long as you keep smiling.
There’s nothing wrong with being an optimist. In fact, I recommend it. I see no point in being a pessimist. Sitting around complaining and bringing everyone down will get you nowhere. But being too much of an optimist can hold you back as well.
Staying positive can work wonders. Simply having a positive mindset can give you the strength and determination to get through some unfavorable situations. If you can’t find it in yourself to be positive in the face of adversity, surround yourself with positive people. But don’t be a fool. Make sure that you keep your eyes open so that you can read the writing on the wall. Don’t let yourself be blinded by optimism.
Too much of a good thing may be a bad thing.
Optimism overdose can lead to inaction. Don’t get to the point that you sit around and wait for things to happen. Telling yourself that it’ll all work out in the end is fine as long as you’re doing something to make it work out.
Unfortunately, there are times when even action with optimism can’t get you through things. This is when you should be a realist and read the writing on the wall. And if you need help identifying these moments, I recommend this little book…
Quitting isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes optimists can’t recognize that. Let the realist in you tell you when it’s time to call it quits.
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Comments
05.06.10
There are a lot of semantic issues around failures that are important. I think that's why Seth calls it the "dip" rather than the most terrifying moment of your life.
I prefer the term "let go" to "quit." I think most of us like to quit addictions, bad stuff; we don't like to quit on things we really want or are going after. However, as you point out, sometimes the challenges are too massive and we've taken on more than we can handle. Then, I think the idea is to let go. Knowing when to let go can be difficult if we're not in touch with that voice of realism and reason, or if we're wearing rose-colored glasses. Knowing how to let go is a very practical and healthy skill in my opinion.
05.06.10
Thank you for the post. Being a natural optamistic, its a hard lesson to learn that it's okay to let go - and at necessary. I look forward to reading the book.
05.06.10
Michael - As you said, when talking about something you really enjoy, "quit" can be a very dirty word. If people feel the need to call it something else, I'm all for it as long as they're doing the right thing. It's amazing how changing a few words can change your attitude about things.
Samantha - One of the great things about the book -- it's only about 80 pages long. That's all Godin needs to make his point, and that's why I love reading his books. Short, simple, yet effective.
05.06.10
"Quit" has so many meanings attached to them. Everyone wants to "quit" a bad habit, but no one wants to "quit" trying. When we're talking about the positive aspect of quitting, perhaps we can say "move on".
05.18.10
A new study on the use art for cancer patients confirms that nature art is best. The research involved 345 patients in three cancer centers in Italy - Messina, Ancona, and Perugia.
"Beyond traditional treatment... Establishing art as therapy", found that the great majority of patients prefer art on the walls of hospitals, instead of white, sterile walls.
burj khalifa The art preferred, in order, is
1. Nature landscapes (most popular)
2. Animals
3. Scenes of everyday life
4. Portraits
5. Urban landscapes
6. Abstract (least popular)
world's tallest building
The control group's fiducia (trust or hope) decreased from viewing only white, sterile walls, whereas the experimental group who viewed nature photos for several months, had an increase in fiducia
05.19.10
Jake,
I like the post, I always like to remember that just because something takes a long time and may be hard that that somehow means it's important and/or productive. This just reminded me to keep that in mind! Thanks!
Chris
05.19.10
I'm glad you enjoyed the post, Chris. Sometimes we all need a little help keeping things in perspective.
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