Saturday May 17th, 2008
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Half Empty or Half Full?
Posted by Su Avasthi on January 21, 2007 - 11:09pm.
Overall I consider myself a fairly optimistic person, albeit one with your garden-variety streak of fatalism. As I see it, one day the ice caps might melt and the oceans might rise. But maybe it'll turn my little stretch of New Mexico desert into beach-front property.
Still, I have to wonder whether I suffer from something called "optimism bias." According an article in the New York Times Magazine, optimism bias is the habit of "systematically exaggerating our chances of success, believing ourselves to be more competent and more in control than we actually are, a tendency to overestimate our abilities." Unfortunately, this does ring true. Fortunately, I see no reason to let it get me down.
Some psychologists would say that say that my attitude is a sign of good mental health and ultimately it increases my odds of living a longer, happier life. Others, however, would tell me that optimists are more prone to suffer from depression, because we're constantly disappointed by harsh realities. (Just try and guess which group is looking on the bright side.)
Meanwhile, pessimism appears to have an interesting silver lining.Take people in Denmark, for example, who are generally considered to be "perennial pessimists," even though studies show they consistently report greater life-satisfaction than any other Western nation.
The reason? Their expectations are so low that they often find themselves pleasantly surprised when things turn out to be better than expected. It makes pessimism sound downright cheerful.
So, which attitude is healthier in the long run? Overall, most of us are optimistic about some parts of our lives, and pessimistic about others. I'm not sure if we can change our fundamental approach to life or which approach is likely to make us feel better. But the outlook does seem to predict the outcome.
Maybe it's really simple: Quit worrying about whether your glass is half-empty or half-full, and just enjoy the drink.
I was born in France, nearly died twice, lost my real and step mums (and could not be there to say goodbye because of distance), got on the streets, been in a gang, even worked in factories under poor conditions, which injured me up to now on my right hand and wrist. Add to that leaving home at 16 and working in five countries where I had to learn not only to speak different languages but to adapt to different thinking ways to survive even succeed in myself. Done Catering, Telecommunications, Law, commerce, Fire fighting, Army, Business and private Service for financial known personalities... and then some... I decided to put all this to positive work but I was doing so much that I was not looking at the big picture: it was not about ME here...it was about what you do for others: compassion, kindness. That is the TRUE measure of someone. So, I tried to go into myself: doing Martial Arts (Judo, Karate, Tai Chi Ch'uan) as an adult in order to control those aggressive male hormones. Then, for a while weigh training to turn my body from 138lbs to 182lbs and to look after myself with respect...Also to go out of my way by helping the environment and humanitarian causes for 18 years unpaid , from writing letters to e mails, to being a member of associations like BCI, WSPA, WWF, etc...I was then in my 30's. After all that, I did think how to share what I learned to show people what we can be...and to attain it quickly (still working for it of course, as, as I say, nothing is now, even instant coffee takes time!), so...I now (at 43) have created my site, infogatherer.com, to help, for the huge majority of people using my service, for free, anybody that wishes to have a chance to reach their dreams...with golden tips and info sent to them within 24 hours of when they ask me for guidance AND IT WORKS: I AM PROOF THAT WE CAN ALL, WITH FAITH, DEDICATION AND HARD WORKS, AS WELL AS INTEGRITY, BE OUR OWN DESTINY: to help others in what we are good at, and, even reach for higher spiritual grounds to shine back even more...And I am ALSO a Mister Mom! We are not judged in what we have or achieve but in what we did for our fellow man or woman. Faith (a lot of prayers to God asking for guidance and how to be more "noble" in my heart) as well as discipline then practicing kindness, did this to me. What did launch it? Call it a waking up call: 2 Things: tragedies happening in some lives where people leave with huge disabilities and STILL smile and do not complain and try to be always kind to others. I DO count my blessings of having all my faculties and the skills to have overturned horrible times...Also, when I did see what some people do for charities in the world via TV. Yes, there are heroes out there and you can be one..even a super hero (meaning you even go higher in level in how you can help and love) and trust me...no money can buy it! So...What did I do today again? I made another person's hope becoming more of a reality. I made them happy...
CONCLUSION: MAKE YOUR LIFE HALF FULL:
Follows those sayings (I made them up with what I know now):
Feelings are like a boomerang: it goes away far from you when you throw it but comes back with tremendous momentum. So, throw positive and positive will come back 10 times fold!
Count your blessings and be an achiever: in some part of the country, accidents and tragedy do happen every day and families can be then broken at the time. Some people have not got even a roof upon their head and the list goes on. By realizing that, you can lead the way to better yourself and lend a hand to others whenever you can. This brings the true powerful you that you are meant to be.
* Feelings are like a boomerang: it goes away far from you when you throw it but comes back with tremendous momentum. So, throw positive and positive will come back 10 times fold!
Be a beacon of positive lifestyle for others and this world: it is NEVER too late to be better and share your wisdom
People want a better life, a greener planet,,,IT IS NOT all gloom...WE are our own destiny too! So, let's be positive and live it. You bet the glass is half full...Oh..Check a site I love to confirm that:
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/87/110/
So long
PAscal Gillon
Founder
infogatherer.com