Expecting success rather than failure, seeing an opportunity rather than a threat; seeing others positively; expecting the future to bring positive change, that things will be better
People with this competence:
See obstacles and bad events as temporary, surmountable, challenges to overcome;
Have a self-talk style that springs from an outlook of expecting success;
Believe not only that they can succeed but also that they will succeed;
Apply this belief to all they do, not just to a single task;
Operate from a mindset of success rather than fear of failure;
See success as a function of people’s motivation and ability;
Believe bad events are not their fault; rather they are just inevitable external realities they can surmount;
Are unfazed by defeat, and when confronted by a bad situation, they perceive it as a challenge and try harder;
Do not see setbacks as a personal flaw; rather, they see setbacks as temporary;
Do better at work, in school, on the playing field, and in life; and
Enjoy better health; and may even live longer, according to recent research.
People lacking this competency:
Expect the worst;
See setbacks as pervasive, always present and indicative of their entire life;
Give up more easily;
Are prone to depression; their health can suffer;
Believe bad events will last a long time, will undermine everything they do, and even that misfortune is their own fault;
Attribute success to luck rather than their own capabilities; and
Feel helpless and listless most of the time.
Development tips:
Tune into your self-talk about the adversity in your life;
Examine your beliefs about the adversity, or how you interpret it;
Take note of your feelings about these beliefs – do you feel sad, anxious, joyful, guilty? Note that pessimistic explanations result in passivity and dejection and optimistic explanations energize you;
Dispute the negative beliefs; don’t allow them to become habitual or circle endlessly through your mind (i.e., “this is absurd, I’m blowing things out of proportion”);
Look for evidence or alternative explanations to dispute negative beliefs (“There’s no evidence here that I’m a failure; I just messed up this time.”); and
“De-catastrophize” (term borrowed from Dr. Martin Seligman, see below)
“Optimist: A man who gets treed by a lion but enjoys the scenery.” – Walter Winchell
Great resources:
Learned Optimism, by Martin Seligman, Ph.D; and
The Happiness Advantage, by Shawn Achor Positivity, by Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D.
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