Weekly Thought > Personal Growth > Optimistic New Year
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Optimistic New Year
I am optimistic about 2006. Not only that it will be a year of blessings in the form of opportunities but also that my health will remain stabilized. The website continues to grow and be useful and the Saturday morning open house is the bright spot of every week. We have formed a real community of friends. Two notes are typical of this group. One said, "I have a lot of problems which I leave at the front door. I come empty but always leave full." Another said, "When I started coming I only wanted to get to heaven but now I want to serve the Lord."
I also am looking forward to teaching Zig Ziglar's class as well as the many telephone conversations with friends. I am enjoying the optimism of usefulness.
A friend sent me some research done by Dr. Martin Seligman, past President of the American Psychological Society. The report was done on the effect of optimism on health. He found that it was the dominant factor over a long period of time. To me, the chief element of optimism is faith. Not faith in optimism, but faith in the Lord who gives us the right to be optimistic. It is really our choice of options. Dr. Seligman has authored an interesting and helpful book on optimism showing that it is an attitude that can be learned. There is quite a difference in polyanna-ism and genuine optimism. Optimists see the negative but don�t fear for they feel adequate to the challenge. False optimism is more denial than recognition.
An attitude of optimism not only makes life for the individual but also for those associated with him/her. I have found that visitors enjoy a positive environment and will return to it.
This week consider: 1) What does optimism mean to you? 2) How are you demonstrating true optimism in your work, home and community? 3) What are you excited about for 2006?
