Optimism? Heck YeA!
Recent research suggests an optimistic state comes from a series of active inner processes, psychological somersaults.
That’s good news because it means that optimism—like other skills such as putting on eyeliner or hitting a tennis ball—is something we can improve with practice.Here are five exercises rooted in scientific studies to help train your brain for optimism.
Play Interpersonal Ping-Pong.
If you serve up a smile to people, they usually bounce it back. Hit them with a snarl, and watch them scowl instead.Short-circuit pessimism.
There’s another reason for putting on a happy face: It influences your brain in a positive way.Explain success and failure like an optimist.
Research shows that it’s not what happens that determines your mood but how you explain what happens that counts.Stack the deck in your favor.
It’s easy to be envious: Compare yourself to those with thinner thighs and fatter bank accounts and you’ll always come up wanting—and pessimistic. But the corollary is also true: No matter how bad things get, there’s always someone who’s worse off.Learn to shift your focus.
Pessimists can’t stop depressing facts or negative thoughts from poking into their consciousness, but they can choose not to dwell on them.
Soooooooooooo..Is your glass half empty or half full?
Do ya see the silver lining in the clouds?
Optimism: The doctrine that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly, everything good, especially the bad, and everything right that is wrong… It is hereditary, but fortunately not contagious.
Ambrose Bierce
How’s that for an outlook?..Wooo doggie.
Truth be told…
It’s all about what you say to yourself when you experience challenges, stress or even adversity.
So your’e a downer? 
OK..Here are some free tips. Heh.
Change your stinkin thinkin!
Learn to view bad happenings as “temporary setbacks”. 
Remind yourself that they are most likely isolated to particular circumstances.
Don’t feed your personal helplessness inner voice.
Not all bad things last forever.
Not all failures undermine everything else you do.
And most importantly…Pssstt…. It’s NOT always your fault.
How you think will change how you feel. Trust me on that one.
Change the tape playing in your head. Now.
You can do it.
If ya practice long enough…guess what?
The new optimism will actually become your “default” response.
Now, How cool is that? 
“Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!”
Oscar Wilde
“An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be.”
“It’s better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right.”
“The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser – in case you thought optimism was dead.”
Robert Brault
Now flash me that smile eh?
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. 
September 18th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
My day is filled with more sarcasm than more optimism, but I have to admit that “Interpersonal Ping-Pong” might be a fun game to play . . . even in a non-sarcastic way.
September 18th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
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September 19th, 2008 at 12:25 am
I feel slightly better now. Perhaps it will all be OK come November 4.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:28 am
I’m a “half full glass” kinda guy and glad of it! I couldn’t imagine being any other way. That’s why I know NOBAMA will never sleep in the White House!
September 19th, 2008 at 12:31 am
My cup is quite empty, making a pot of tea now.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:36 am
I love this, I am ready to think positive thoughts about Nov 4th!
I am usually a 1/2 cup full knd of gal!
I have had my moments with the loonie toons.
Hugs
September 19th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Optimism often clashes and is prevented by my pragmatism. I find it impossible to be a realist & an optimist in the same moment.
September 19th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Democrat Sham: The new oil drilling bill that bans oil drilling…
The Democrats took a beating in the court of public opinion recently when they chose to recess for the summer without doing anything productive for the oil/energy crisis.
Now that congress is back in session, they have seen the light and have proposed …
September 19th, 2008 at 2:55 am
American Politics and The Whiners On the Left Part…
Snooper – It just isn’t fair, dammit! The Democrats were supposed to be winning and here comes along that old white haired dude that is too old to even know what a computer is and that chick from Alaska that no one knows about or has even heard from ….
September 19th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Well said Angel, i already employ some of those ideas, it’s better to be an optimist.
“Change your stinkin thinkin!”
i like the sound of that..
Just so you know, in case you visit my blog and wonder why no new posts, WordPress have put my blog on hold, apparently they are reviewing it because they are concerned by the content i have on it. Hopefully it’s nothing but, i’ll have to wait and see, for now i can’t put any new posts which is a bummer.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:01 am
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September 19th, 2008 at 7:24 am
I’m trying…Really!
September 19th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Big grin for ya Angel.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I kept thinking about the election as I read your post.
I’m TRYING…I’m TRYING!!!!
September 19th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Optimism is inevitably the last hope of the defeated.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:42 am
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September 19th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Pelosi’s Tired Old Blame Game…
Before getting to the endless loop that is the entirely politically motivated noise spewing from Nancy Pelosi’s mouth, a brief word on the collective efforts of both stripes in Congress and the fact that nearly every poll on the planet ranks the…
September 19th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Why believe in “optimism” rather than “pessimism”?
Because it makes you feel better.
Okay, well, what if optimism is actually falsely leading you to absurd conclusions. Or perhaps there’s a better way of doing something and you could only STOP what you are doing now if you added some pessimism to it?
The war on terror, for example.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Holy Gibson…
Informative video, to say the least. ……
September 19th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
The libs make it really hard to be optimistic, as do terrorists, Angel, but I’ve always been an optimist. I’ve had a bit of trouble holding onto that mindset as of late.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Ahoy there Capn’ Angel!
Just wanted to crawl up the hawsepipe to wish the Cap’n of one of the finest vessels on this here seven internets all the best on this auspicious day!
Fair winds and followin’ seas!
YAAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!
September 19th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
The Roots of a Crisis…
Podcast Show Notes
How did the economic crisis come about.
Clinton Administration policies that pushed questionable loans were key. (Hat Tip: Hot Air.)
Both President Bush and Senator McCain tried to fix issues surronding Fannie and Freddie, while S…
September 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I’m a glas 99% full type person Angel
September 19th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
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September 19th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
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September 19th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Palin should avoid anti-Iran rally…
She will have adequate opportunity as candidate and as vice president to voice a position on Iran….
September 19th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Obama lies and inflames racial fears…
It would seem Barack Obama finally has an example of his ability to create bipartisan unity. ……
September 19th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Nice post Angel. We all need to be reminded of this once in a while.
September 20th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Angel, Great Post, as usual…….I keep saying it over and over,,,,I’m optimistic,,,,and it still doesn’t work……..stay well…..
September 20th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Another False Obama Rumor…
I promised to keep on top of false rumors about Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama. This latest one is perhaps the most outlandish of all: according to a story by the French news agency AFP, Obama knows how to fix……
September 20th, 2008 at 11:24 am
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September 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
New Nuclear Reactors in Pakistan — New Bombings in Pakistan…
Who is responsible for the truck bomb at the Marriott in Islamabad Pakistan — a symbol like the Twin Towers were to Americans? There has been no claim so far from any particular group for this tragedy. The Marriott supposedly……
September 20th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
[...] Democrat=Socialist, NN&V, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Take Our Country Back, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, The Pink Flamingo, WingLeSS, CORSARI D’ITALIA, Stageleft, and Right Voices. Also, thanks to [...]
September 20th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I’m afraid I can’t even find the glass right now.
September 20th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
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September 20th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I’m an eternal optimist. But, I discovered that my youngest son is even more of an optimist. He recently told me that his bottle was not empty, it was “full of air”.
September 20th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Obama continues his infanticide lies…
t’s already been well established that Barack Obama has lied about his pro-abortion record and his fight against legislation that would have protected abortion survivors. He now continues this disturbing habit with his response to ……
September 20th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I’m back! My electricity is back on after a whole week of Ike coming to Cincinnati and knocking us right off the grid!
Faith the size of a mustard seed, eh, Angel?
September 20th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
[...] Optimism? Heck YeA! – Woman Honor Thyself [...]
September 20th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
What I want to know is who drank half of my water?
September 20th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
The $700 Billion Bailout…
Podcast Show Notes
A $700 billion bail out for the troubled financial industry, but will it work?
Mitch McConnell is naive if he thinks the bill won’t be loaded down with pet projects.
Plus Obama’s misleading response to an Independent gro…
September 21st, 2008 at 12:24 am
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September 21st, 2008 at 4:11 pm
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September 21st, 2008 at 6:15 pm
[...] Up, Cao’s Blog, NN&V, Conservative Cat, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, , third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, Walls of the City, The World According to Carl, , The Pink Flamingo, Wolf Pangloss, WingLeSS, [...]
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 am
Anti-Palin campaign is a grassroots effort?…
There have been many rumors and lies spread about Governor Palin soon after she was picked to be John McCain’s Vice President. Some have spread quickly around the Internet and eventually were picked up by various pundits ……
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:07 am
Racism Straight Up…
I am getting more and more puzzled by the use of race in this election and more and more disheartened by what that shows about America.
I feel like a lone voice in America protesting the use of race as a polarizing and defining characteristic.
While Bi…
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:07 am
Obama cockroaches running for cover?…
An interesting reaction to the investigative report I covered in a previous post. In contrast to most online denizens, rather than enjoying the attention, videos and YouTube accounts are being removed and canceled in a rather organized fashion….
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
A REALLY good post… as timely for me individually as it is for all of us… now… anytime… all times. Your words and communicated over view once again help to prop us all up in the face of uncertainty. You just always do that so well, Angel.
I am torn by worry about the number of us who can clearly see, think and vote accordingly in November… vs. the incredible burst of encouragement and possibilities that have come from the appearance of Sarah Palin. She is surely the anti-lib balancing weight to square McCain’s naturally sloping shoulders.
Personally, optimism helps me rise above and meet the challenges in business, family and those extra important passions that are so permanently dear to my heart. It is a tool that, used regularly, spells the difference between success and potential failure.
A great reminder there, Hot Rod! Thanks…
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Big breaking news, check out my blog for the story on: Smear videos against Palin linked to Obama campaign~
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
TAKE THE POLL!…
Recently I was on the phone with a friend who was giving me a hard time about my bird pictures.
Hey, it’s been a lifelong thing of mine – to take pictures of birds (and other things of personal interest – not necessarily people), and I’m j…
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 am
DailyKos erasing history…
The Palin smear campaign investigation seems to have hit another nerve. ……
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:30 am
The Feminists unload on Palin, and the truth is exposed…
Ever since her nomination in August, Feminists have been losing their minds about Palin.
Her pro life and other conservative positions has frankly driven them nuts. Chief of the PDS abusers have been the feminists.
One of the first I saw was Sarah Se…
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 am
Aftermath…
It’s been 10 days since Hurricane Ike slammed into Galveston with a 15 foot storm surge and 110 MPH winds….
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Palin Syrah Wine Spat Out By San Fransickans…
This from a town not known for its “spitting.”
Serious Eats tells us:
Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin might not be fond of San Francisco, but one San Francisco wine bar is fond of Palin Syrah. Or rather, it was.
“It was…
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
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September 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
The abortion experience…
It can leave emotional scars with those who have had abortions. This is one resource that can help. ……
September 24th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Racism and Feminism in America: The sad truth…
If you connect the dots between racism, sexism and democrats you end up with one word:
Hijacked.
In both cases we had serious social issues. We had serious social revolution. We had real change and social enlightenment.
And we ended up with both is…
September 24th, 2008 at 9:57 am
1 Oct 2008: Martial Law In America!…
At least that’s what the unhinged left is claiming.
The left has taken an Army Times article and somehow turned it into an article detailing a US military plan to invade American soil under Martial Law. Tin foil hat time?
The article that star…
September 24th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
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September 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
John McCain responds to the financial crisis…
John McCain has decided to suspend his campaign and go back to Washington to help work out a solution to the financial crisis. McCain has also asked to postpone this Friday’s Presidential debate. ……
September 24th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
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November 5th, 2010 at 2:34 am
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