Sunday, May 2, 2010

Next Step to Happiness-Optimism

Next installment of the CHOOSE Happiness at Work Model is O for Optimism.
(I have covered C- Clarity of direction in life and knowing where you want to be in life and work and H-Health in previous blogs)

Optimism is defined as having a  positive attitude about yourself, your future and your world.
Optimism is not just about taking a glass half full view of the world-Someone,very sensibly, said recently that a glass half full of water is also half empty.Life is full of plenty of challenges to tackle either negatively or positively. Some issues are also outside of our control so a degree of realistic thinking is needed along with a postive approach. Your tendency to be optimistic or pessimistic is pretty much part of your personality- a factor of family genes as well as how you have seen people tackle problems over the years when you were a small person. The key message about optimism is that it is incredibly important-if you do nothing else on this little Regater walk up the path to choosing happiness at work-do optimism. Optimistic thinkers are not only happier, they are healthier, more successful, have better relationships blah blah blah. So even if you are usually a paid up, full time and founding member of the temple of doom club- practice turning some of those negative thoughts into a more positive ones, on a daily basis.


As the Dalai Lama said

"The central method for achieving a happier life is to train your mind in a daily practice that weakens negative attitudes and strengthens positive ones"


I would love to hear your thoughts on optimism.