[jsfg_cinti] We all need to be optimistic

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Job Searching and Unemployment is a downer!  But view it as an Optimist and 
keep a positive attitude and things will get better.

Here's a good reminder of how to be an Optimist:

ALWAYS BE AN OPTIMIST 

Everyone wants to be physically healthy. You want to be mentally healthy 
as well. The true measure of "mental fitness" is how optimistic you are about
yourself and your life. 


In this newsletter, you learn how to control your thinking in very 
specific ways so that you feel terrific about yourself and your situation, no 
matter what happens. 


BE AN OPTIMIST AT ALL TIMES 
There are three basic differences in the reactions of optimists and
pessimists. The first difference is that the optimist sees a setback as
temporary, while the pessimist sees it as permanent. The optimist sees an
unfortunate event, such as an order that falls through or a sales call 
that fails, as a temporary event, something that is limited in time and that 
has no real impact on the future. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees
negative events as permanent, as part of life and destiny. 


SPECIFIC VERSUS PERSUASIVE DIFFICULTIES 
The second difference between the optimist and the pessimist is that the
optimist sees difficulties as specific, while the pessimist sees them as
pervasive. This means that when things go wrong for the optimist, he looks
at the event as an isolated incident largely disconnected from other 
things that are going on in his life. 


SEE PROBLEMS AS TEMPORARY 
For example, if something you were counting on failed to materialize and 
you interpreted it to yourself as being an unfortunate event, but something 
that happens in the course of life and business, you would be reacting like an
optimist. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees disappointments as being
pervasive. That is, to him they are indications of a problem or 
shortcoming that pervades every area of life. 


BE DETACHED FROM YOUR DIFFICULTIES 
The third difference between optimists and pessimists is that optimists 
see events as external, while pessimists interpret events as personal. When
things go wrong, the optimist will tend to see the setback as resulting 
from external factors over which one has little control. If the optimist is 
cut
off in traffic, for example, instead of getting angry or upset, he will
simply downgrade the importance of the event by saying something like, 
"Oh, well, I guess that person is just having a bad day." 


DON'T TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY 
The pessimist on the other hand, has a tendency to take everything
personally. If the pessimist is cut off in traffic, he will react as 
though the other driver has deliberately acted to upset and frustrate him. 


BE OBJECTIVE ABOUT LIFE 
The hallmark of the fully mature, fully functioning, self-actualizing
personality is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught up 
in the inevitable storms of daily life. The superior person has the ability 
to continue talking to himself in a positive and optimistic way, keeping his
mind calm, clear and completely under control. The mature personality is
more relaxed and aware and capable of interpreting events more 
realistically and less emotionally than is the immature personality. As a 
result, the
mature person exerts a far greater sense of control and influence over his
environment, and is far less likely to be angry, upset, or distracted. 


TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR THINKING 
Look upon the inevitable setbacks that you face as being temporary, 
specific and external. View the negative situation as a single event that is 
not
connected to other potential events and that is caused largely by external
factors over which you can have little control. Simply refuse to see the
event as being in any way permanent, pervasive or indicative of personal
incompetence of inability. 

Resolve to think like an optimist, no matter what happens. You may not be
able to control events but you can control the way you react to them. 


ACTION EXERCISES 
First, remind yourself continually that setbacks are only temporary, they
will soon be past and nothing is as serious as you think it is. 

Second, look upon each problem as a specific event, not connected to other
events and not indicative of a pattern of any kind. Deal with it and get 
on with your life. 

Third, recognize that when things go wrong, they are usually caused by a
variety of external events. Say to yourself, "What can't be cured must be
endured," and then get back to thinking about your goals.

Good luck to all!!

Alan Garten
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