Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

Kaybee · 07-04-2009, 05:11 AM

I've just read a quote that I find entertaining, but profound as well.

"Every dark cloud has a silver lining, but lightening kills hundreds of people each year who are trying to find it."

Although, I'm devoted to personal development and have worked hard over the years to change my perceptions and attitudes, this quote reminded me of what an uphill battle that was.

I believe that most people have a tendency to focus on finding the bad instead of the good. I'm sure you've been asked the question....do you see the glass as half full or half empty?

Even when working on personal development, do you focus more on correcting weaknesses or building up your strengths?

Thanks for sharing.

Kim
Self Improvement and Motivation

Daffy Duck · 07-04-2009, 05:34 AM

I've always been a bit of a natural optimist and I believe I have developed it even further. Even now when I think about my future, I don't see any scary problems. I know things will work out. My "problem" is that I have too many options available to me. Do I want to pursue good thing #1 or good thing #2, or #3, or #4! I see a lot opportunities but not really enough time to pursue all of them, so I pick and choose. Do you ever feel that way?

ssandra · 07-05-2009, 12:04 PM

I´m an optimist, but sometimes I take it to far and become very naive to the world and its problems.

All in all I don´t really mind. I like the world I created although it is not real, I don´t think I care. Maybe I have to live just a little bit more in the real world and stop pretending problems are not there, but other than that I am happy with my outlook of life.

Aleksander Krstic · 07-05-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaybee

I've just read a quote that I find entertaining, but profound as well.

"Every dark cloud has a silver lining, but lightening kills hundreds of people each year who are trying to find it."

Although, I'm devoted to personal development and have worked hard over the years to change my perceptions and attitudes, this quote reminded me of what an uphill battle that was.

I believe that most people have a tendency to focus on finding the bad instead of the good. I'm sure you've been asked the question....do you see the glass as half full or half empty?

Even when working on personal development, do you focus more on correcting weaknesses or building up your strengths?

Thanks for sharing.

Kim
Self Improvement and Motivation

I don't possibly understand the quote you gave.

I am one of the most optimistic persons you'll find, even though that I'm not always in a good mood.

I am working on both.

themaster · 07-05-2009, 01:16 PM

I was probably a pessimist somewhere in that linear time illusion.. I would say it's the opposite now.. I see worlds of possibilities even if I never engage them that much

recordrustle · 07-06-2009, 01:04 AM

i see the glass half-full now, i didn't a year ago though.
my personal development has been focussed on building my strengths and changing patterns in my thinking that lead me to feel down.

developing a positive mindset has kind of been like a snowball effect, the first thing that set me off onto a positive mindset was realising that anything is possible and that has lead me to take action to get what i desire in life.

shasah · 07-06-2009, 01:47 AM

I've been back and forth on the glass half full/glass half empty numerous times in life. teens - glass half empty 20's - glass half full 30's - glass half empty now - glass overflowing

garentee · 07-06-2009, 09:38 AM

It depends on the situation... some days I am fully optimistic, others I am not.. I tend to look at things and state my honest opinions... fortunately I can always look at it from a different point of view..which when I was less optimistic was not the case.. THere is a choice involvedd.. I strive for optimism, I just am not always so optimistic.. but even if I think something bad is going to happen, I do know that chances are quite good that I will handle it.. whatever it is...

sk8joyful · 07-06-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaybee

I believe that most people have a tendency to focus on finding the bad instead of the good. I'm sure you've been asked the question....do you see the glass as half full or half empty?

Even when working on personal development, do you focus more on correcting weaknesses or building up your strengths?

"Natural personal

perpetual optimist" best describes me, for the most part. I perceive progressive... options, opportunities & choices, including enjoying... life (past 100) as a perpetual 23 yr. young whipper-snapper, lol

How often do you allow yourself feeling this way?

I dink, or play-around with buildingUP strengths, especially "Core-strength, & power" for my Iceskating...
which I practice with the same passion... as other favorite activities.
At the same time, I've helped other people achieve some of their goals too.

Most of my chats with GOD/Jesus center around my Thankful gratitudes, with
my main request "Please, grant me a few millenia more of life here, so I can enjoy more fun...

Thanks! Daddy"

oscardelben · 07-06-2009, 11:55 AM

I tend to be optimistic. I like to see the positive side of things in every situation. This is intentional tough. I had to remind myself everyday the importance of being optimistic without escaping from reality.

The difference for me comes in those situations where you can't see anything good, for example paying taxes, loose something important, etc.

zenmasterben · 07-06-2009, 12:15 PM

Well I try to be optimistic, but I guess it depends by the situations I find myself in. Now I tend to look at the bright side of life

But, like so many others I haven’t always been that way. It has taken me some self exploring and daily reminders to get this way.

spirit4711 · 07-06-2009, 01:17 PM

Natural born optimist.

Even though there is sadness, pain, depression sometimes, my basic attitude is optimism.

Another quote I've read:

'Pessimists are probably right but optimists have more fun!'

KazeCraven · 07-06-2009, 04:31 PM

I guess I'm more of an optimist, because I think in terms of what I want to accomplish and what I want to bring to the world. When I go to another city or country, I don't keep looking over my shoulder in case thieves come out and mug me, but I like to take precautions if I get wind of questionable behavior in the area. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt when they could either do something good or bad, but I try to set up my plans based on what I think is most accurate and effective.

And I am thoroughly upset when someone points out the "evil" side of human nature, but I tend to heed any advice I get from people who know what they are talking about. I tend to look at the probable outcomes before important events occur, then act on gut instinct when in the situation.

BeyondtheWrap · 07-07-2009, 06:57 PM

Back in high school, I actually identified as an Optimist. My philosophy was to choose to always be happy (or at least indifferent). Maybe I was successful because I didn't have many emotions to begin with, but then it makes me wonder why I even needed to make an ideology out of how to be happy in the first place. Over the next few years, I started to feel a bit down about what I was doing with my life. Now I still look positively on external things, unfortunately I tend to be critical of myself.

When I was a practicing optimist, I probably took it too far; I strongly believed that emotions were bad and had no use, and this affected my romantic relationships in a negative way. I encountered the optimist's paradox: You're just being a pessimist! Oh wait, maybe I'm being pessimistic by assuming that what you said what pessimistic...

There's more to really being happy than how you feel about things. For me, being happy requires me to be myself (things that I'm still working on like honesty, courage, and going after what I want; TLP now that I think about it).

And just being optimistic or pessimistic doesn't really tell us how a person would act. I think there is both an active and a passive version of each:

Active Optimist: I can do and get whatever I want!
Passive Optimist: I don't need anything, because I'm already happy.
Active Pessimist: This sucks, I'm going to do something about it.
Passive Pessimist: My life sucks, and it's not going to change.

Either mindset can be useful in the active version.

joylangtry · 07-07-2009, 07:27 PM

Optimist!

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." - William Shakespeare

I truly believe that we apply meaning to everything that happens, so we might as well apply something positive!

I think I also got a head start with the name I have - thanks, Mom!

BeyondtheWrap · 07-07-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joylangtry

I truly believe that we apply meaning to everything that happens, so we might as well apply something positive!

Exactly how I used to think of it.

JRhodes · 07-08-2009, 02:31 PM

I'm a rare breed, an introverted optimist.

There's almost always a way to turn a negative into a plus, you just need to focus on the positive more.

KazeCraven · 07-08-2009, 07:01 PM

Wait, are introverts supposed to be pessimists?

07-04-2009, 05:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kaybee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 112	Honestly, Are You More of a Pessimist or Optimist? I've just read a quote that I find entertaining, but profound as well. "Every dark cloud has a silver lining, but lightening kills hundreds of people each year who are trying to find it." Although, I'm devoted to personal development and have worked hard over the years to change my perceptions and attitudes, this quote reminded me of what an uphill battle that was. I believe that most people have a tendency to focus on finding the bad instead of the good. I'm sure you've been asked the question....do you see the glass as half full or half empty? Even when working on personal development, do you focus more on correcting weaknesses or building up your strengths? Thanks for sharing. Kim Self Improvement and Motivation

07-06-2009, 04:31 PM	#13 (permalink)
KazeCraven Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 282	The glass is twice as large as it needs to be:p I guess I'm more of an optimist, because I think in terms of what I want to accomplish and what I want to bring to the world. When I go to another city or country, I don't keep looking over my shoulder in case thieves come out and mug me, but I like to take precautions if I get wind of questionable behavior in the area. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt when they could either do something good or bad, but I try to set up my plans based on what I think is most accurate and effective. And I am thoroughly upset when someone points out the "evil" side of human nature, but I tend to heed any advice I get from people who know what they are talking about. I tend to look at the probable outcomes before important events occur, then act on gut instinct when in the situation.

07-08-2009, 07:01 PM	#18 (permalink)
KazeCraven Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 282	Introverted Optimist, JRhodes? Wait, are introverts supposed to be pessimists?

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07-04-2009, 05:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Daffy Duck Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,001	I've always been a bit of a natural optimist and I believe I have developed it even further. Even now when I think about my future, I don't see any scary problems. I know things will work out. My "problem" is that I have too many options available to me. Do I want to pursue good thing #1 or good thing #2, or #3, or #4! I see a lot opportunities but not really enough time to pursue all of them, so I pick and choose. Do you ever feel that way?

07-05-2009, 12:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
ssandra Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mexico City Posts: 11,168	I´m an optimist, but sometimes I take it to far and become very naive to the world and its problems. All in all I don´t really mind. I like the world I created although it is not real, I don´t think I care. Maybe I have to live just a little bit more in the real world and stop pretending problems are not there, but other than that I am happy with my outlook of life.

07-05-2009, 01:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
themaster Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: I'm a traveler everywhere and nowhere.. currently in Denver.. where else? Posts: 3,618	I was probably a pessimist somewhere in that linear time illusion.. I would say it's the opposite now.. I see worlds of possibilities even if I never engage them that much

07-06-2009, 01:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
recordrustle Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 63	i see the glass half-full now, i didn't a year ago though. my personal development has been focussed on building my strengths and changing patterns in my thinking that lead me to feel down. developing a positive mindset has kind of been like a snowball effect, the first thing that set me off onto a positive mindset was realising that anything is possible and that has lead me to take action to get what i desire in life.

07-06-2009, 01:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
shasah Family Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Posts: 3,750	I've been back and forth on the glass half full/glass half empty numerous times in life. teens - glass half empty 20's - glass half full 30's - glass half empty now - glass overflowing

07-06-2009, 09:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
garentee Family Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: NEW ENGLAND!!!!!!! Posts: 1,701	It depends on the situation... some days I am fully optimistic, others I am not.. I tend to look at things and state my honest opinions... fortunately I can always look at it from a different point of view..which when I was less optimistic was not the case.. THere is a choice involvedd.. I strive for optimism, I just am not always so optimistic.. but even if I think something bad is going to happen, I do know that chances are quite good that I will handle it.. whatever it is...

07-06-2009, 11:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
oscardelben Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Italy Posts: 92	I tend to be optimistic. I like to see the positive side of things in every situation. This is intentional tough. I had to remind myself everyday the importance of being optimistic without escaping from reality. The difference for me comes in those situations where you can't see anything good, for example paying taxes, loose something important, etc.

07-06-2009, 12:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
zenmasterben Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iceland Posts: 4	Well I try to be optimistic, but I guess it depends by the situations I find myself in. Now I tend to look at the bright side of life But, like so many others I haven’t always been that way. It has taken me some self exploring and daily reminders to get this way.

07-06-2009, 01:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
spirit4711 Family Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Nong Seng Posts: 3,975	Natural born optimist. Even though there is sadness, pain, depression sometimes, my basic attitude is optimism. Another quote I've read: 'Pessimists are probably right but optimists have more fun!'

07-07-2009, 06:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
BeyondtheWrap Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 95	Back in high school, I actually identified as an Optimist. My philosophy was to choose to always be happy (or at least indifferent). Maybe I was successful because I didn't have many emotions to begin with, but then it makes me wonder why I even needed to make an ideology out of how to be happy in the first place. Over the next few years, I started to feel a bit down about what I was doing with my life. Now I still look positively on external things, unfortunately I tend to be critical of myself. When I was a practicing optimist, I probably took it too far; I strongly believed that emotions were bad and had no use, and this affected my romantic relationships in a negative way. I encountered the optimist's paradox: You're just being a pessimist! Oh wait, maybe I'm being pessimistic by assuming that what you said what pessimistic... There's more to really being happy than how you feel about things. For me, being happy requires me to be myself (things that I'm still working on like honesty, courage, and going after what I want; TLP now that I think about it). And just being optimistic or pessimistic doesn't really tell us how a person would act. I think there is both an active and a passive version of each: Active Optimist: I can do and get whatever I want! Passive Optimist: I don't need anything, because I'm already happy. Active Pessimist: This sucks, I'm going to do something about it. Passive Pessimist: My life sucks, and it's not going to change. Either mindset can be useful in the active version.

07-07-2009, 07:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
joylangtry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NH Posts: 153	Optimist! "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." - William Shakespeare I truly believe that we apply meaning to everything that happens, so we might as well apply something positive! I think I also got a head start with the name I have - thanks, Mom!

07-08-2009, 02:31 PM	#17 (permalink)
JRhodes Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: England. Posts: 47	I'm a rare breed, an introverted optimist. There's almost always a way to turn a negative into a plus, you just need to focus on the positive more.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums