Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity
17. Optimism
Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. Make all your friends feel there is something in them. Look at the sunny side of everything. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give everyone a smile. Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.–Christian D. Larsen (Creed for Optimists)
defined as:
1 : a doctrine that this world is the best possible world… 2 : an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome…
I have a friend who reminds me all the time that “life is tough, but it is not as tough as it used to be”. Far from it. Unconsciously I seem to know that optimism is a virtue and that a negative outlook is something to be concerned about. I have found that there are actually many reasons why this is so. From a medical stand point, anxiety, anger and stress can do a lot of damage to the body. Too much stress has been shown to shorten a person’s life span; in the shorter term it can wreak havoc on the skin as well as on the internal systems, including the immune system and other vital organs. By holding negative feelings inside I can throw my digestive functions of my body out of whack. So a bad attitude isn’t just something to be waved off or taken lightly. It can have a significant impact on my health. On the other hand, when I consistently exhibit a positive attitude I am more likely to stay healthier, look fitter, and recover faster from any illnesses that I undergo. We in recovery, have heard many stories about pain, loneliness and despair from folks who, seemingly because they managed to keep up their hope and spirits, somehow survived and won their battle for the day. There is certainly something about optimism that goes far beyond merely being “upbeat” or “perky”. It’s a way of thinking and a way of living that actually improves my overall sense of well being. Unfortunately, I was caught up in a life style that was too familiar with the negative side of things. We live in a world full of upsetting events and everyday stresses. The key is to remind myself to not let them dictate my emotional state. No matter what is happening around me, I can develop a positive attitude at the core of my being. Today I am equipped to survive any challenge, any disappointment, any crisis, and any source that upsets my serenity. I make a conscious effort to replace my negative thoughts and actions with positive ones. Instead of looking at a task and saying, “It’s impossible,” I can just commit to doing it and enjoy the challenge of a job well done. Instead of viewing my illness as “proof” of how hopeless my life is, I can look at it as my spirit telling me that something needs to change, and then work on changing it. Every hardship, every seemingly impossible thing is actually a brilliant opportunity for me to show just how far I can push myself to accomplish my goals. Expect some curveballs along the way and accept that they are just inevitable parts of life on life’s terms. Whatever comes my way, I try to shine positive energies to those around me, and it gets reflected back to me. If you want to get on the roller coaster of life, you must first get off the merry go round!
Love and Respect, Bruce M.
defined as:
1 : a doctrine that this world is the best possible world… 2 : an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome…
I have a friend who reminds me all the time that “life is tough, but it is not as tough as it used to be”. Far from it. Unconsciously I seem to know that optimism is a virtue and that a negative outlook is something to be concerned about. I have found that there are actually many reasons why this is so. From a medical stand point, anxiety, anger and stress can do a lot of damage to the body. Too much stress has been shown to shorten a person’s life span; in the shorter term it can wreak havoc on the skin as well as on the internal systems, including the immune system and other vital organs. By holding negative feelings inside I can throw my digestive functions of my body out of whack. So a bad attitude isn’t just something to be waved off or taken lightly. It can have a significant impact on my health. On the other hand, when I consistently exhibit a positive attitude I am more likely to stay healthier, look fitter, and recover faster from any illnesses that I undergo. We in recovery, have heard many stories about pain, loneliness and despair from folks who, seemingly because they managed to keep up their hope and spirits, somehow survived and won their battle for the day. There is certainly something about optimism that goes far beyond merely being “upbeat” or “perky”. It’s a way of thinking and a way of living that actually improves my overall sense of well being. Unfortunately, I was caught up in a life style that was too familiar with the negative side of things. We live in a world full of upsetting events and everyday stresses. The key is to remind myself to not let them dictate my emotional state. No matter what is happening around me, I can develop a positive attitude at the core of my being. Today I am equipped to survive any challenge, any disappointment, any crisis, and any source that upsets my serenity. I make a conscious effort to replace my negative thoughts and actions with positive ones. Instead of looking at a task and saying, “It’s impossible,” I can just commit to doing it and enjoy the challenge of a job well done. Instead of viewing my illness as “proof” of how hopeless my life is, I can look at it as my spirit telling me that something needs to change, and then work on changing it. Every hardship, every seemingly impossible thing is actually a brilliant opportunity for me to show just how far I can push myself to accomplish my goals. Expect some curveballs along the way and accept that they are just inevitable parts of life on life’s terms. Whatever comes my way, I try to shine positive energies to those around me, and it gets reflected back to me. If you want to get on the roller coaster of life, you must first get off the merry go round!
Love and Respect, Bruce M.
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