Optimism…Pessimism

My job counselor tells me she has a good prospect for a job I might be interested in. I must do a short interview, so I agree after not having the success I would have liked for searching for a job. Having skills I just learned, my counselor tells me it’s for a data entry position and that I be at my best, because the employer has a PH.D in statistics. I lowered my eyes; I only have a General Education diploma and I am not at this moment feeling so good about this interview. I filled out the application took the interview and thirty minutes later, I am told that I am hired.
This kind of scenario happens to many people in the United States. There are people who assume things get worse not better. A pessimist tends to see things negatively or they tend to blame themselves for what they are lacking or for what goes wrong and they try to pull everyone else into the same boat. There is another side to the coin, the optimist. Optimists are resilient when things are all wrong and are more the content about their lives. Optimists cope well because they have learned to cope and share with others and support others in their endeavors.
http://www.mindtools.com/stress/rt/CognitiveRestructuring.htm
If you are thinking negatively or pessimistically depression or anxiety can set in the mind yet if you are using “cognitive restructuring” instead of being pessimistic, you may rationalize if there is a reason that any negative thought would exist, and at this point you begin to have control – “you have begun to succeed”. To become more optimistic, you can learn to meditate, staying in touch with the present without having distracting thoughts. Write your thoughts down; keep a journal about the good things that happen and explain them to yourself as reminders that good does happen in your life. Focus on the good things and you will see your way through depression or those anxious feelings you have been having.
Being positive can improve the way you feel, your emotions can become clear and being optimistic can help you to become resilient and keep you feeling a connectedness with other people. Exercising you mind to become an optimist not only helps you mentally, yet can help you both physically and emotionally.

Written by Donald S.

Optimistic Approach

When times get tough and you think there is no way to get through it. Just remember when in the past there was a similar situation and you were able to weather the storm. I was reading somewhere about the optimistic approach to life. It is a belief that people will get through tough times. We always seem to forget when a new problem comes along that it too will pass and be forgotten. I noticed that I’ve been getting angry lately over situations and I know it is not right to spend that much energy over something. This morning I decided to step back and look at the problem from the outside looking in. I came up with this idea, because in the past I made some decisions that were not right. If I could have stopped and looked at the big picture, it might have turned out different. It made me realize I do not have to get angry, because of someone else. I have been through a lot tougher situations and they have worked out O.K. If I can remember before a bad situation becomes worse, I will try and stop and look at the situation. I will take the optimistic approach. There are some thing’s you can change and there are others that you cannot change. Take a look if you have to change something in your life that is bothering you. When you are angry you cannot think right and that just gets you angrier, so try to calm down and think about the situation and what you may be able to do better to change the situation around.

Remnants of the Past…

There’s an old shirt hanging in my closet…I used to party in. There’s an old coin in the dresser drawer, it was once a friend of mine. What do these have to do with sobriety or even Recovery? These objects represent ideas; memories of days gone by and in Recovery, even a person’s sobriety, you must be aware of what lays in the shadows of the mind. Objects represent ideas of themselves, and we give gifts, often with smiles, always with intent; and we carry them where we go for a period of time. The old ideas of my friendships with others continued to exist, not feeling saddened and with strength as I look upon the instances shared with them and the gifts I have received. We jeopardize ourselves at times without the most proper ideas or thoughts; as a result we linger within those dark corners, feeling ill hope, despair even anxiety. These are remnants too of the past, yet through Recovery, our motivation can become enhanced, our hope and strength replacing fear, which raises our optimism and builds a better way; while we accept change and become realistic…We are no longer waiting in the aisle ways isolated in the darkness of our pessimisms, we are building pride, instead of vacant thoughts; becoming molded with dignity to reach out into the world in which to share our hopes and aspirations’ through choice and Recovery. Written by…Donald Sammons