THE POWER OF OPTIMISM
–McGinnis
If you follow the following principles, you will always be mentally healthy and functional, and you will never need a psychologist.
“TOUGH-MINDED OPTIMISM”
Realistic acceptance of reality, combined with hope
As effective as psychotherapy, if no major depression
Pessimism leads to cynicism: no faith so no effort
Comparison with other self-help philosophies:
“Power of positive thinking” implies no limits, which
is unrealistic
“Everything will turn out fine” encourages passivity and
fatalism
“You create your own reality” is crap
“My family was dysfunctional” abrogates responsibility ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS
Accept and verbalize them–pain is part of life
Look for the good in bad situations, but don’t give phony
pep talks
Use bad for a good lesson–look for and accept the lesson
Don’t be Pollyanna–much is impossible
Be a problem solver–try to make at least some difference
Look for options, even though none is excellent
Get started–it’s half the battle
ACCEPT PARTIAL SOLUTIONS
Don’t be a perfectionist–be flexible
Accept what cannot be changed; give up if necessary
Try a lot; have many failures, but many successes
You won’t find life worth living; make it worth living
Half of something is better than all of nothing
BELIEVE YOU CONTROL YOUR FUTURE
Do something initially to generate small successes
Face reality as it is; change yourself if necessary
Exercise will; choose your attitude
Believe you have almost unlimited capacity
Believe your best is yet to be
INCREASE YOUR ENERGY
Entropy: all systems run down–must reenergize
Associate with energetic people, including children
Expand interests and knowledge–try new things
Develop spiritually–use the Sabbath
INTERRUPT NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Monitor thoughts–negative ones are a habit
Displace them with good thoughts
Snap a rubber band on your wrist
Try to view things in a more favorable light
Choose not to be defensive
You can’t choose how you feel–but you can choose
how you react
PRACTICE ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE
Say “thank you”; admire things which are good
Be grateful; enjoy what you have
REHEARSE SUCCESS
Think in. pictures; it’s more effective than practice
Imagination is more important than knowledge
Avoid worry and develop faith
Complaining is a habit; don’t rehearse failure
Always talk about the good news–concentrate on successes
PRACTICE LOVE
Serve others and have a basic belief in human nature
Avoid hostility by tolerance and forgiveness
Do these things!
Even if you don’t understand it, do these things!
Even if you don’t feel like it, do these things!