Optimism Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will create worry and fear. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will create success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to make your dream better.

Agenda Take the Optimism Test! Take the Optimism Test! Definitions Definitions a) Optimism b) Pessimism c) Other important terms Test Results Test Results Improving Your Score & Optimism Improving Your Score & Optimism

Definitions Optimism Optimism A tendency to expect the best possible outcome or think on the most hopeful aspects of a situation. Pessimism Pessimism A tendency to stress the negative or unfavorable or to take the worst possible view.

Definitions Resilience Resilience The ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune. The ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune. In life there are good things and bad things that can happen to you. It is important to be able to interpret what happens to you in an efficient and effective way. In life there are good things and bad things that can happen to you. It is important to be able to interpret what happens to you in an efficient and effective way.

Advantages of Being Optimistic You are a more positive person You are a more positive person More persistent in your goals More persistent in your goals Rebound back quicker during setbacks Rebound back quicker during setbacks Able to deal with loss or failure better Able to deal with loss or failure better Interpret things that happen to you in a slightly different way Interpret things that happen to you in a slightly different way Higher self-esteem Higher self-esteem

Optimism & Its Dimensions 1) Personalization 1) Personalization 2) Time 2) Time 3) Pervasiveness 3) Pervasiveness

Dimension #1: Time Time: The amount of time you think a good or bad event last. Time: The amount of time you think a good or bad event last. Optimistic people think that good events last a long period of time and bad events last a short period of time. Optimistic people think that good events last a long period of time and bad events last a short period of time. Pessimistic people think that good events happen a short period of time and bad events last a long period of time. Pessimistic people think that good events happen a short period of time and bad events last a long period of time. When good events occur, the longer the better and when bad events occur the shorter the better. When good events occur, the longer the better and when bad events occur the shorter the better.

Improving Your Score – Example #1 If you see a question that say all your friends catch a cold, except you If you see a question that say all your friends catch a cold, except you Notice this is a good thing Notice this is a good thing The two choices you have are The two choices you have are A) I have been healthy lately A) I have been healthy lately B) I am a healthy person B) I am a healthy person Since good things should be thought of lasting a long time, choice B is longer so that is the more optimistic answer. Since good things should be thought of lasting a long time, choice B is longer so that is the more optimistic answer. Please note the word “lately” reduces the time of this good thing so the answer is B Please note the word “lately” reduces the time of this good thing so the answer is B

Improving Your Score – Example #2 If you see a question that says you have a good time on vacation If you see a question that says you have a good time on vacation You should think A) the country is nice or B) the time of year was nice? You should think A) the country is nice or B) the time of year was nice? Think about which one is LONGER? Think about which one is LONGER? The more optimistic answer is A since the country is always going to be nice and the time of year is shorter term. The more optimistic answer is A since the country is always going to be nice and the time of year is shorter term. This is one of the hardest questions and requires you to think “outside the box”. This is one of the hardest questions and requires you to think “outside the box”.

Optimal Thinking Good things – think always Good things – think always Good things avoid thinking or saying today or right now. Good things avoid thinking or saying today or right now. We are playing well right now should be replaced with we are playing well We are playing well right now should be replaced with we are playing well

Dimension #1: Time Good Things Questions #5,9,23,39,40,41,42,43 Questions #5,9,23,39,40,41,42,43

Dimension #1: Time Bad Things Questions #12,13,18,20?,24,26,27,28,31,33,35,36 Questions #12,13,18,20?,24,26,27,28,31,33,35,36

Dimension #2: Personalization Personalization: Assigning responsibility to good or bad things that happen to you. Personalization: Assigning responsibility to good or bad things that happen to you. Optimistic people take credit for good things and find a reason or blame something or someone for bad things. Optimistic people take credit for good things and find a reason or blame something or someone for bad things.

Dimension #2: Personalization – Good things Questions # 2, 4, 8, 16, 19, 22, 44,45 Questions # 2, 4, 8, 16, 19, 22, 44,45

Dimension #2: Personalization – Bad Things Question # 6,7,10,11,14,38, Question # 6,7,10,11,14,38,

Dimension #3: Pervasiveness Pervasiveness: The number of areas in your life that are affected by the occurrence of an event Pervasiveness: The number of areas in your life that are affected by the occurrence of an event Optimistic people believe good things affect many areas of your life and bad things affect few areas of your life. Optimistic people believe good things affect many areas of your life and bad things affect few areas of your life. Pessimistic people believe good things affect few areas of your life and bad things affect many areas of your life. Pessimistic people believe good things affect few areas of your life and bad things affect many areas of your life.

Dimension #3: Pervasiveness Good Things Questions #1,3,17,25,30,32,34,37, Questions #1,3,17,25,30,32,34,37,

Dimension #3: Pervasiveness Bad Things Questions #15, 21,29,46,47,48 Questions #15, 21,29,46,47,48

Homework Homework You make them up Optimism Questions You make them up Optimism Questions Wonder Word : Do definitions Wonder Word : Do definitions