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The Power of Optimism
It is common to believe that the people who are mentally healthy
are those who are realistic, who judge accurately what they can do and what they
can't do. We sometimes chide people who try to do too much: "Be
realistic."
That might not be good advice. Research shows that people who
are realistic are more likely to be depressed. People who think they can do more
than they actually can, tend to be healthier mentally and physically; optimism
is a healthy frame of mind. But there are several habits that can keep us from
enjoying optimism.
Blame does not help. When we make mistakes it is easy to
think: "I am so stupid! I keep making the same mistakes! When am I going to
learn?" Such blame can keep us trapped in a negative pattern of thinking
and acting. There is a better way.
We can challenge our negative thoughts. For example, when
we make a mistake, it is helpful to say: "I've made a mistake similar to
mistakes I've made in the past. But I keep learning something new every time.
I'm glad I can keep learning and trying."
Do the things you can do. None of us can solve all our
problems at once. But there are little things we can do that help. We can keep
trying. We can try new ways. We can get ideas from books and other people.
Get outside yourself. Rather than dwell on feelings of
failure, get busy helping or building or learning. Rather than trying to talk
yourself into being happy, find a way you can be productive. Sometimes we think
we have to start feeling better before we can move forward. The opposite is more
often the case: We must start doing something in order to start feeling better.
Train yourself to notice when you are beating up on yourself.
When you notice it, challenge the negative thoughts in the same way you would if
a good friend were saying the same things about herself that you are saying
about yourself. See yourself as a person who tries hard and does your best. Get
busy. Be patient with yourself. Be hopeful about the future.
Every day there are things that might go wrong. We have a
choice; we can worry about them and dread what may happen or enjoy the
present and look forward to the future. Whatever problems tomorrow brings,
we can deal with them. Look forward to the good things you have planned. Enjoy
your opportunities to work and be productive now. Seize the day and all its
opportunities and tomorrow will take care of itself.
Applications:
Try to recall a time when you were upset with yourself. Consider
whether you used the following three unhelpful ways of thinking:
-
Personal: "It is my fault. I am to blame."
-
Permanent: "I have always done this. I never seem to learn."
-
Pervasive: "I seem to make the same mistakes in all areas. Nothing ever goes right for me."
Most of us have had thoughts like those at times. But the
healthiest people are those who learn to challenge the thoughts and replace them
with more helpful thoughts. See if you can apply the following more optimistic
thoughts to a situation where you have felt like a failure.
-
Personal: "That was an especially hard job. But I learned things that will help me do better."
-
Permanent: "That is a mistake I have made before but each time I learn something new."
-
Pervasive: "I still have trouble in one area but overall I am doing much better."
Sometimes when we feel pessimistic or downhearted we can push
ourselves to move on to something that needs to be done. Other times we find it
almost impossible to get started. At such times it can be helpful to have a list
of things you find satisfaction in doing. Maybe you like to listen to music,
organize your desk, take a walk . . . What are some of the active things you can
be prepared to do at times when you find it hard to get started?
Recommended reading: If you enjoy reading books about psychology you would
probably enjoy "Learned Optimism" by Martin E. P. Seligman. He
describes the finding that people can be trained to feel and act helpless; they
do not do what they can do to solve their problems. He provides examples of the
many areas of life in which optimism makes people successful. He also shows how
to challenge our negative thoughts.
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