Tweet

Today's Economy DEMANDS A Critical Skill: Optimism

Written by: Eileen McDargh

Article Overview: Although there is much to fear right now there is always hope and optimism. Let Eileen McDargh show you how you can learn optimism.

Today's Economy DEMANDS A Critical Skill: Optimism

Global warming. Water shortages. Terrorism. Failing health care system. Wars around the globe. Gas prices. Severe economic downturn. Look at the headlines and it's enough to make you stay in bed.

But wait! There is hope. It's not the cock-eyed optimism sung about in South Pacific, the hottest show on Broadway. Rather it's what psychologists in France are calling "intelligent optimism." Such optimism does not deny the reality of today's world, but rather seeks to LEARN how to fashion a life amid such difficulties. Martin Seligman, the psychologist who had made optimism and happiness his life's work, would agree with the French: optimism can be taught.

Consider these basic steps:

(1) Focus on what you can control. Don't get carried away by circumstances you cannot change. You might not change global warming, but you can control your energy consumption. You can't stop the downsizing in your company, but you can arm yourself with marketable skills. You cannot halt the bleeding on Wall Street but you can rebalance your portfolio. You can take a hard look at expenses and determine what are necessities and what are nice-to-have items that can be dropped. At the same time, do resolve to spend some money or time on something that truly gives you pleasure and lightens your spirit. Two-for-one hamburgers at the local joint with my best friend make my heart glad and brings a smile to TWO faces.

(2) Reframe the event so that you are not a victim. There is always another way to view a situation. The flight cancellation that caused me to miss (and forfeit) a major engagement was not "planned" to "get" me. It just was. My choice is to figure out what I can do to help the current client and what I will put in place of the cancelled work. When Hurricane Katrina wiped out the home of a nurse, she told me that she focused every day on what she still had and she had her children do the same thing. Every day started with gratitude. She refused to see herself as a victim.

(3) Think "enough". When we concentrate on what we don't have, we miss all the many things we do have. The truth of the matter is that if you are reading this article, you do have enough computer power. You do have enough intelligence. You do have enough. It might not be as much as you would like but, for today, it is enough.

(4) Cultivate optimistic responses. Like a farmer tending a field, optimism will never grow unless it is watered, fed, weeded, and nourished. We all have days in which negativity can take over. And, sometimes, that is a WISE response because it keeps us grounded in reality. Just make sure it is reality and not the imagination making extraordinary leaps into conjecture. Weed out that conjecture. Ask what you can DO to see a result that gives you a sense of power. As Alexander Graham Bells stated, "Sometimes we stare so long at the closed door we fail to see the one that is opening." The 3M engineer who thought he had failed to make a glue compound that would stick discovered what we all now call Post-In Notes(tm).

(5) Remember the power of generations. Children of depressed parents are more prone to depression. Children of optimists are more prone to be optimists. What do you choose to pass along? Even if your parents were negative, you can break the cycle by stopping, freeze-framing a situation, listening to the negative self-talk, and then literally giving yourself a different message. Yes, this is a practice. A hard practice. But you can make it a habit if you work it over time.

(6) Sing. When all else fails-start singing. It is impossible to feel negative when you lift your voice in song. Music allows you to formulate words, to add nuance, and to even get your toe tapping.

(7) Refuse to watch or read anything that puts a dark pall over your day. Instead of tuning into gloom, read a book that transports you to another time and a better mood. Go play with the baby next door. And if you are one of those folks who just can't stand children, take a walk with your dog, dig in the yard, or get a bucket of balls and practice your golf swing. Better that than walking around with heart and mind weighted down.

(8) Refuse to participate in a chorus of negative conversations if the only thing you will hear is whining, complaining and moaning. Tell your group that they have three minutes to throw a hissy fit but then it must stop and the next six minutes must be devoted to either finding something positive about the situation or something that they can do.

Lastly, practice saying this mantra, "This too shall pass." It always has and it always will.

(c) 2009, McDargh Communications. Publication rights granted to all venues so long as article and by-line are reprinted intact and all links are made live.

Related Articles
  IBM Mainframe part deux
  The Optimistic Sales Professional
  Warren Buffett and his Effect on the Stock Market!
  Daily Meetings Result in Daily Deals
  Franchising Advantages in a Bad Economy

Article Tags: cancellation, downsizing, economic downturn, energy consumption, gas prices, global warming, gratitude, hamburgers, health care system, hottest show, marketable skills, martin seligman, necessities, optimism, psychologist, psychologists, spirit two, two faces, wall street, water shortages



Related Forum Posts
Re: 21 Ways To Get New Customers In A Slow Economy - Thanks Evan, Your ideas are full of wisdom required for a time like this. I`ll like to add another idea to your list : Update your Knowledge and Sharpen your Skill on a daily basis. The economy may be considered slow,but customer awareness is on the increase,therefore,if the pocket (disposable income) of the proposed new customer is of any interest to you,then you must stay ahead by at least one step in your skill and knowledge. The 21 ways as listed by Evan is a sure way to increase in knowledge and sharpen you skill.
Napoleon on Project Management - Why do I include this in a list of books aimed at female entrepreneurs? Well...in the expectation that there are as many female history buffs as male ones, and in the belief that anyone interested in history will find this book fascinating, while those interested in project management will learn a thing or two. I think this was the first "gimmick" book - an author using a historical figure (usually a male, military figure, it must be admitted) to talk about modern day business management. I refuse to read any of the kind that advocates - even obliquely - the techniques of the Sopranos or the Mossad - but these military ones are pretty fun. Anyway: Only in the understanding of history, Napoleon might say, do we gain an understanding of strategy in the present. In the same spirit, Napoleon on Project Management offers the recipe for successfully managing your commitments using the strategies, tactics and priorities that propelled Napoleon himself to victory. [The book doesn't gloss over how Napolean eventually fell in defeat, of course, and there's lessons to be learned there as well. TOC Foreword by Douglas James Allan (Napoleanic Society of America) 1. The Rise to Power -The Skills to Succeed -A Compelling Vision -Diplomacy and Networking -Lessons from the Great Campaigns 2. Napoleon's 6 Winning Principles -Introduction -Exactitude -Speed -Flexibility -Simplicity -Character -Moral Force 3. The Downfall -What Went Wrong -Lessons from the Russian Invasion and Waterloo -The Four Critical Warning Signs -Napoleon's Legacy
Re: New member from the USA - [quote="Mal Tindle":rpz5ne6d][quote="Ethical":rpz5ne6d][quote="Mal Tindle":rpz5ne6d]Hi Ethical, Welcome to the forum, it's good to see new people getting involved in any forum and you have picked one of the very best. I haven't been a member too long but am a regular now because of the support and resources available here which are most impressive. I see you work in the recycling of ink cartridges and I wish you well with that and attracting traffic to your site. best wishes, Mal.[/quote:rpz5ne6d] Thanks for your welcome,Mr.Mal,are you located in the USA,or the UK o'GB.or some other locale?,and if may I have your permission to ask,What kinda(kind of) entrepreneurship are you involved with?,as anything in life,education,and correct info...is the key to success,and Profesional forum attendance,is enlighting.Thanks again for your welcome.[/quote:rpz5ne6d] Hi Again Ethical, Thank you for your reply, I live in the UK and don’t have a product as such to sell like you but I am an Internet Marketer and owner of the ‘Work From Home Gems’ site below. I specialise in finding and recommending different ways to make money on the internet as an affiliate. I very much enjoy working in this sector and hope to work full time from home in the future. Don’t forget to set up your signature as recommended by GT above as this is a simple way to ad the URL of your website and this will show on every post you make, best wishes, Mal.[/quote:rpz5ne6d] Howdy (Hi and How do you do,in Texan): I'm currently working from home,and with My lifelong ltd. business experience(which is not as limited ,As I humbly stated ,I hope to utilize (utilise in British English),some knowledge to help me be somewhat successful.('California is a "brand new game" to many outsiders,inc. a West Texan ,like me,but I somehow managed above expectations). My ambition at this stage of my life(being formally retired),isn't like when I was younger,and accomplished a lot,'way beyond my ltd. means', as I met with a lot of small and big successes,as I didn't had the luxarious option of losing or failing,in order to survive,I had to'make it'. In today's USA Economy and it's negative implications on all of retirees(pensioners) and disabled folks, It became vital to be able to function with some amount of success...or face hunger,if not worse,in the USA we have a 'nation' of homeless folks,that are unaided.most of them are either disabled,or 'senior citizens',or both. so failure is not an option,currently I live in Southern California,which is controlled by an inhumane and dishonest Reublican governor,that cut income from both disabled,and the aged disabled(With false excuses) .while cost of subsisting here is skyrocketing without price controls.so any ltd. additional income is a 'blessings'.Our country economy,as the whole world is already aware is continue to fall,(I was extremely surprised,like many others) that our country borrowed huge amounts not only from its allies(like the UK of GB, UAE,Kuwait etc.) but also from the P.R. of China(ain't it amazing,it's the greatest 'accomplishment' of the previous Bush administtration),It was done prior to our current wonderful president Obama times,But Obama administration was really honest and transparent about these facts,and additionally acted in the best interests of our country,and improved our country situation so dramatically,so at least we're hopefull.The Praises that our current administration deserves are long.Folks like me try to cease any opportunity to survive ,I'm not aiming to'make a killing' but just survive the onslought ,and 'so far so good',I already started on my own to reach to local pro.(professional)folks,that I had the pleasure to know,and there are real hopes,I already sold on my own 1st ltd. batch of 'virgin'(only one time used) 'empties' (Empty ink cartridges),and even earn already a minor sum of 'income',and time'll tell.My honest belief is just as long as one could act rationally there 're hopes for positive results.Thanks for support and advice,I may put the website into my signature a little later,meanwhile ,I'm so busy just 'to keep my head above waters'.Thanks again.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Good News Travels Fast

THE “SECRET RECIPES” OF LEADERSHIP

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.