BEING POSITIVE
• Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your
Life by Martin Seligman, Ph.D.
• Thou should heed the advice of the „Second Ten
Commandments‟ by Harvey Mackay
Pessimism : How to Identify
• Use of permanent comments to explain bad
events
– Words such as always, never
• Universal explanations
– When one thing goes bad, all of it does
• Personalize problems
– When something goes wrong, it‟s all your fault
Optimism : How to Identify
• Use of permanent comments to explain good
events
– Words such as always, never
• Specific explanations
– When one thing goes bad, it only affects one thing
• Externalize problems
– When something goes wrong, it‟s not all your fault
How it affects you
• Optimists bounce back
– They have the same problems as a pessimist, but
they can handle them better
• Pessimism / Depression relationship
– Pessimism can be a cause of depression, not just an
indicator
• Pessimists rooted more deeply in reality
How it affects you
• Health
– University of Pittsburg study on 100,000 women
• 9% lower risk of developing heart disease
• 14% lower risk of dying from any cause
• 16% lower risk of stroke
– Why?
• Experience less stress when faced with problems
• Stick to healthy habits and seek out medical help
• Social support
How you can make changes
• Distract
– Try to think of something else
– Schedule a time to deal with whatever issues you
have later
– If you‟re trying to sleep, write down your thoughts to
vent and dispose of them
How you can make changes
• Dispute – Give the issue an argument
– Evidence
• Is the problem true?
– Alternatives
• What else might have caused the outcome?
– Implications
• What‟s the worst that could happen?
– Usefulness
• What good am I getting from this?
Second Ten Commandments
• Thou shall not worry
• Thou shall not be fearful
• Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to
them
• Thou shall face each problem as it comes
• Thou shall not take problems to bed with you
Second Ten Commandments
• Thou shall not borrow other people‟s problems
• Thou shall not try to relive yesterday
• Thou shall be a good listener
• Thou shall not become “bogged down” by
frustration
• Thou shall count thy blessings
BEING POSITIVE
• Sources
– Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and
Your Life by Martin Seligman, Ph.D.
– Thou should heed the advice of the „Second Ten
Commandments‟ by Harvey Mackay
– Optimistic women may have lower risk of heart
disease by Heather Mayer
• www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/11/happiness.heart.disease/
– Study: Optimistic women live longer by Alice Park
• www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1883402,00.html