Optimism has frequently been in headlines this year.
Popular publications Time (March and May 2011) and Psychology Today (November 2011) dedicated entire issues to the subject.
I connect with all things happy and smiley. This must be one of my tactics - I see something smiley. I smile. I feel more optimistic. I get through a tough time rather than running away.
In Your Back Up Brain by Dan Hurley, Hurley explores a different mind-body connection than the ‘ol Mind over Matter mantra. He introduces us to the man on the frontier of NeuroGastroenterology: Colombia University professor, Michael Gershon. Dr. Gershon has been studying the the enteric nervous system (ENS) -what he calls the gut’s brain – it’s what gives us those stress feelings in our tummies.
Annie Murphy Paul’s Optimism gets to the heart of what many of us ponder: Do we fit in the half-full or half-empty group? Paul lets us know that we don’t have to pick a glass and can be realistic in the process.
I re-read a few sentences over and over: “[ Optimism plays the part of ] overruling the doubts and worries that might otherwise paralyze us into inaction.”
That’s it! When others around me are doubtful, I pull out my optimism. If I didn’t, I’m not sure I could complete the next presentation. Focus on the next project. Show up tomorrow. This goes for my health / medical life. This next appointment will be worth it. In fact, the next appointment may be the last appointment ever.
Time’s article The Optimism Bias is a call for optimism and its link to all individuals regardless of socioeconomic status. Optimism and Hope are the only answers I have for the economic crisis. I can visualize families all-smiles as they sign the dotted line on a mortgage that is higher than they can afford….”We’ll be able to make it because I’ll get a better job. And you’re going back to school. we’ll save so much because we’ll be happy….”
What do you think? I’d love to hear from you!
What are your thoughts about Optimism?
Do you believe that optimism improves a person’s health? In what ways? Why or why not?
Did you read any of the above referenced articles? have any others to share?
Best wishes to you,
-Q
Filed under: Disability, Health, Hopes and Dreams, In search of happiness, Optimism Tagged: | enteric nervous system, happy faces, living with uncertainty, neurogastroenterology, optimism, Psychology Today November 2011, smiley faces, Time Magazine May 2011
Optimism – a tendency to take a hopeful or favourable view. Where would we be without it? I think we would have a very bleak world. No hopes or dreams to aspire to. No inner peace that tomorrow will be a better day. No moments in your head that you can beat this pain, you will not let this illness win.
Without optimism what have children and adults got to aim for? Is it worth getting up? (I take a while to get going in the morning)
I read all three articles but like the optimism bias the most. I agree with the article especially about the cancer patients. I know this because optimism and willpower keep me going everyday. Without it I would just crumble in a heap and not get out of bed.
Why shouldn’t you dream just because you are ill, it doesn’t mean you are unrealistic ( you know there is no cure and it does get worse) but little things can make you smile still and what better place to escape to than a little optimism.
I am a firm believer.
Hugs
Lx
I come across as a pessimist I think, but I’m really not. I’ve been trying to figure out what it is that sends out these vibes – I think part of it is that I tend to view and highlight the obstacles, challenges, or problems in something rather than the facilitators, (positive) mediators, and successes. Now as for the why…well, maybe I’m just reacting to the many “but I assumed it would just go according to plan” people out there. Or to look at it on a deeper level, I probably do this because I’m a fixer, a fixer with fewer resources than she used to have, which makes me orient to the likely problems and automatically start a process of triage, which sounds to the “assumers” like I’m knocking the chances of success from the start. I’m not, I just like to know what we’re getting in to and strategize in advance on how to handle the probable rough spots since I don’t have the energy anymore to handle last minute curve balls.
When it comes to how I think of people though, I am apparently an optimist. I say this because I tend to assume people will be fair and reasonable if not good and kind.
I am a pessimist most of the time, so often paralyzed into inaction in my life. I do not like it, often feeling as though I will never get out of the box I am in. Then again, do I want to? Depressed, confused, undiagnosed pain that is possibly fibro, in midlife. Yet I see pleasure in little things. There is great beauty in the world I don’t think things are as bad as my mind makes them. Really a pessimistic optimist maybe? Whatever, it is what it is. To all, take care of yourself and enjoy the sun when it shines.