There is the “hope against hope” where the person hopes without any basis for expecting fulfillment. When I purchase a lottery ticket and hope to win the fifty million dollars or so, I hope—I would like to win. But, I honestly have no expectations of claiming the money.
Then there is “hope” where a person expects to win. Winning is being successful and hope is not in the luck of the draw but in the confidence born out of the desire to win plus having a plan and executing the steps necessary to achieve the win or goal.
In the mega-hit Rogers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific, the leading lady, Nellie sings “A Cockeyed Optimist”. This song contains the memorable optimistic words, “I’m stuck like a dope on a thing called hope.” While we may think of a “dope” as a simpleton or stupid person, the message is not from a dim-witted individual. This is no half-empty glass philosophy.
People can learn a great deal about personal success from this great Broadway play and later box-office hit. Like Nellie, successful people are optimist. I don’t think the definition of an optimist as one who sees the glass half full does justice to the word. A true optimist is one who believes in their ability to produce the best outcome. They use their ability to optimize; to add water to the glass and thereby make it more than half full. An optimist sees opportunities, acts positively to remove the pessimism engendered by obstacles and expects to be victorious.
Get in the habit of being positive. Think more about the good things in your life than the bad. See the sunrise in every twenty four hours. Yes, nighttime comes with the setting sun, but a rooster’s crow in the morning signals a new day.
Being negative, like sprouting weeds, just happens. Being positive, like cultivating flowers, takes work. Gratefulness is a powerful tool for that work. And the resulting beauty is worth the investment.
Being positive is easy, fun and works. Start by being thankful. The more often you are thankful, the more often you will be positive. A principle often overlooked: the more positive you are, the more reason you have to be positive.
A positive performance begins with a positive attitude. If you are having a bad day, stop and ask yourself, “Why”? When you have determined the cause for your negativity, stop. The problem or circumstances are real. But, it is your reaction to the problem or circumstances that determines whether you respond in a positive or negative way. Blame someone else or fate and you will respond negatively. If you accept the reality of the situation and determine to make the best of it, you respond in a positive way and things naturally get better.
I don’t know why so many people are negative thinkers. For many people negativity is a natural, normal and first reaction to problems. Their intuition tells them that this is what they should expect. Instinct urges them to accept what they deserve. My experience is that negative people too often have the motto: “What is, is.” This type of acquiescence leads to accepting negative situations as a part of my lot in life and just another link in my chain of failure.
If you think this way, you have given control of your life to the “dark side of the force”, fate. Luke Skywalker, of Star Wars fame invites you cast off the negative force and come over to the positive force. Let this Force make you hopeful, optimistic and expectant. You may not be a Jedi, but the Positive Force can be with you.
The message of the song, A Cockeyed Optimist is, to have hope; expect to succeed. Unfortunately, many people live a life of hopelessness. These pessimists see themselves as victims and not victors. As Winston Churchill’s once declared, “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Make an effort every day to see opportunity in all circumstances.
In my experience in business and life, I find that success favors the optimist. Practice positive expectations and see your self being successful. Get stuck on hope and you will get stuck on success.
HOG THOUGHT: There are many reasons to be negative. One for being positive: Being positive leads to success. A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will put you on the autobahn to success.
HOG QUOTE: “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” — Willie Nelson, song writer and singer
HOG ACTION: Success is built on positive expectations. Never give up the idea for being successful. Get stuck on HOPE.
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