Everyone wants to be physically healthy. You want to be mentally healthy as well. Think about it. Don’t you? The true measure of “mental fitness” is how optimistic you are about yourself and your life. In this newsletter, you learn how to control your thinking in very specific ways so that you feel terrific about yourself and your situation, no matter what happens.
Control Your Reactions and Responses
There are three basic differences in the reactions of optimists and
pessimists. The first difference is that the optimist sees a setback as
temporary, while the pessimist sees it as permanent. The optimist sees an unfortunate event, such as an order that falls through or a sales call that fails, as a temporary event, something that is limited in time and that has no real impact on the future. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees negative events as permanent, as part of life and destiny.
Isolate the Incident
The second difference between the optimist and the pessimist is that
the optimist sees difficulties as specific, while the pessimist sees
them as pervasive. This means that when things go wrong for the
optimist, he looks at the event as an isolated incident largely
disconnected from other things that are going on in his life.
See Setbacks As Temporary Events
For example, if something you were counting on failed to materialize
and you interpreted it to yourself as being an unfortunate event, but
something that happens in the course of life and business, you would be
reacting like an optimist. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees
disappointments as being pervasive. That is, to him they are indications
of a problem or shortcoming that pervades every area of life.
Don't Take Failure Personally
The third difference between optimists and pessimists is that
optimists see events as external, while pessimists interpret events as
personal. When things go wrong, the optimist will tend to see the
setback as resulting from external factors over which one has little
control.If the optimist is cut off in traffic, for example, instead of getting angry or upset, he will simply downgrade the importance of the event by saying something like, “Oh, well, I guess that person is just having a bad day.”
The pessimist on the other hand, has a tendency to take everything personally. If the pessimist is cut off in traffic, he will react as though the other driver has deliberately acted to upset and frustrate him.
Remain Calm and Objective
The hallmark of the fully mature, fully functioning, self-actualizing
personality is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught
up in the inevitable storms of daily life. The superior person has the
ability to continue talking to himself in a positive and optimistic way,
keeping his mind calm, clear and completely under control. The mature
personality is more relaxed and aware and capable of interpreting events
more realistically and less emotionally than is the immature
personality. As a result, the mature person exerts a far greater sense
of control and influence over his environment, and is far less likely to
be angry, upset, or distracted.
Take the Long View
Look upon the inevitable setbacks that you face as being temporary,
specific and external. View the negative situation as a single event
that is not connected to other potential events and that is caused
largely by external factors over which you can have little control.
Simply refuse to see the event as being in any way permanent, pervasive
or indicative of personal incompetence of inability.Resolve to think like an optimist, no matter what happens. You may not be able to control events but you can control the way you react to them.
Action Exercises
Now, here are three actions you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.First, remind yourself continually that setbacks are only temporary, they will soon be past and nothing is as serious as you think it is.
Second, look upon each problem as a specific event, not connected to other events and not indicative of a pattern of any kind. Deal with it and get on with your life.
Third, recognize that when things go wrong, they are usually caused by a variety of external events. Say to yourself, “What can’t be cured must be endured,” and then get back to thinking about your goals.
Brian Tracy
Brian Tracy has been empowering business professionals by sharing his knowledge all over the world. His techniques will allow you to reach your goals and achieve the unthinkable.
Learn How to Build Optimism in Your Life.
Brian Tracy International
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Solana Beach, CA 92075
462 Stevens Ave Suite 305
Solana Beach, CA 92075
To order by phone or for customer support,
call 1-858-436-7300
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call 1-858-436-7300
1-858-436-7300 or email us at:
support@briantracy.com.
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