Choose Strength Over Weakness

ByMatthew

“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.” – William James

Pessimism is like asking yourself “How can I fail? How can I connect with, and strengthen, my not-being-able-to-do-it thoughts?”

Optimism is asking yourself, “How can I succeed? How can I call the best of me, of others and what’s around to create the best result possible?”

A lot of people confuse optimism with unrealistic expectations. Optimism is a just a bias, or maybe more usefully, a thinking preference. I see optimism as preferring thinking that looks for possibilities, rather than shutting myself off from them. Optimism doesn’t ignore challenges or difficulties, or insist on continuing,  despite strong indications or evidence that success is highly unlikely, it just asks “If it is possible, and it likely is, how can we?”

Is it appropriate, or even wise, at times to “give up?” Absolutely, but not after really, truly giving it a honest effort. And not to give up completely, only to take a break and reflect on experience and results and proceed anew – with wisdom and new, better plan.

Pessimism is, to my mind, just looking for permission to give up, before even starting.

As I write this I am struck by just how foreign a concept pessimism feels to me. That’s not say that I don’t have pessimistic thoughts or in lesser moments that I am never pessimistic, only that it’s not who I am (at least not anymore… ). What’s more, I don’t feel compelled to explain pessimism as much as I just did optimism.

I urge you to consider the implications, and consequences, of your thinking. Do you agree with James’ words above? And, if so, what will you do to lead yourself towards your power (and not weakness)?

 

Similar Posts

  • Going Beyond a First Try

    ByMatthew

    Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries. – James Michener As hard as it is to try something new, it’s pretty darn hard to try it a third or fourth time. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to try, try again, and again, and again . . . . But sometimes…

  • Listen, Instead

    ByMatthew

    The best way to persuade people is with your ears – by listening to them. – Dean Rusk There’s a difference between persuasion and coercion. If you persuade, you are either helping someone see a different point of view or to act when they would not have otherwise. To persuade you need trust. Trust is…

  • How Coaching Creates An *Upward* Spiral

    ByMatthew

    One way to understand coaching is that it brings awareness, intelligence and wisdom to your life. Specifically, it does that to your goals, plans – and depending on the client’s willingness to experiment with new practices – actions. So many people go through life reacting to “what comes up” with whatever awareness, intelligence and wisdom is available…

  • What Money Does to People

    ByMatthew

    The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind. – W. Somerset Maugham I said “money” in the title because I think that’s the key factor at play. One of my limiting beliefs about…

  • The One Thing You CAN’T Have

    ByMatthew

    Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. – Thomas Jefferson I’ve blogged on this one before, but it bears repeating. To achieve a good attitude is necessary, but not sufficient. The wrong attitude however, will negate everything…