As the 1944 song
by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer goes: "You've
got to accentuate the positive
It continues:
"You've got to spread the joy up to the maximum
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with the Mister in-between"
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene."
In the 1980's research psychologist Martin
Seligman says much the same. Optimism - realistic optimism - plays an
important role in bringing good things into a person's life in areas ranging
from health, job and school success and personal relationships. Pessimism
tends to create difficulties.
Much of this phenomenon seems to relate the way that
individuals handle stress and problems. It is true that some of us have
far more problems and far less advantages than others. And yet, some people
seem to bounce back from difficulty easier than others.
A lot of that ability involves what researchers call
people's "explanatory style" - their response to bad times.
Do we blame our problems fully on ourselves, or can we accept that bad
luck and factors beyond our control play a part in our difficulties? This
doesn't change the reality of our difficulty, of course, but it does make
it easier to cope with than if we considered ourselves fully at fault.
In addition, when faced with difficulty, do we withdraw
in defeat and helplessness or can we evaluate the situation and take control
wherever feasible in order to improve it. Such an ability involves an
interesting differentiation: We accept we have made errors or been wrong,
but not that we are bad. Furthermore we feel we can change in order to
succeed.
The pessimist tends to think that negative things
can't change and that, unfortunately, includes his negative attitude.
It is important to know that it can. Cognitive methods, visual imagery,
emotional expression to a sympathetic person, understanding the influence
of the past on one's present all help to avoid negative people and seek
out optimists for their inspiration and example, to make time and opportunity
for fun in one's life and to seek out professional help if needed.
When it comes down to it, optimism is a wonderful
attribute and a form of power, for it facilitates within a person a valuable
control of and pleasure in his daily life.
This article first appeared in the October 7, 1987 issue of The Shopper.