Half-Empty or Half-Full, How is Your Cup?
Posted by JDHcoaching | Posted in
"Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.
-G. B. Stern
-G. B. Stern
Interesting thought, isn't it? Have you ever stopped to think about yourself with that quote in mind? Which best describes you and why? Often, one does not recognize how they view their own cup, but rather glean this information via feedback from those close to them. They then tend to become somewhat defensive regarding that feedback. In other words, the optimist does not wish to be labeled as a pie in the sky type of person, nor does the pessimist want to be labeled as the harbinger. Both will argue they are correct in their view; however, they just don't like the label.
How does one become a cup half-full or cup half-empty person? Maybe a better question to ask is what purpose do they both serve? The cup half-full person, or optimist, will employ a proactive cognitive component based on a rational perception of their own ability. Optimism is a true motivator towards success. Optimism serves as the fuel to discover.
How does one become a cup half-full or cup half-empty person? Maybe a better question to ask is what purpose do they both serve? The cup half-full person, or optimist, will employ a proactive cognitive component based on a rational perception of their own ability. Optimism is a true motivator towards success. Optimism serves as the fuel to discover.
A reporter went to see
Thomas Edison, and the reporter said, "Mr
Edison when are you going to give up this obsession with the
electric lamp? You
have failed over 5,000 times trying to make an electric
lamp work, and everybody knows
that gas lamps are the future"
Edison replied, "Dear chap, you are sadly misguided. I have not
failed 5,000 times, I have purely found 5,000 ways in which the electric lamp will not work,
which means I am 5,000 ways nearer to finding the solution."
The reporter organized his "facts"based solely on his perception of Edison's past failures, and thus concluded that any future attempts would only serve as an exercise in futility. Pessimism erodes confidence and increases stress. A pessimist dismisses success as a stroke of luck. Employs a cognitive component based on an irrational perception on their own, and others, abilities. Pessimism serves to eliminate motivation.
The reporter organized his "facts"based solely on his perception of Edison's past failures, and thus concluded that any future attempts would only serve as an exercise in futility. Pessimism erodes confidence and increases stress. A pessimist dismisses success as a stroke of luck. Employs a cognitive component based on an irrational perception on their own, and others, abilities. Pessimism serves to eliminate motivation.
One
day, someone showed me a glass of water that was half full. And he
said, "Is it half full or half empty?" So I drank the water. No more
problem. ~Alexander Jodorowsky
Until next time, ThinkSmart!
Until next time, ThinkSmart!
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