With what Biden and company are doing to the nation and to the world it is easy to feel down. Dr. Terry Paulson’s classic book, The Optimism Advantage: 50 Simple Truths to Transform Your Attitudes and Actions into Results, however, isn’t just about managing your attitudes. It’s about shaping your world in a way that promotes optimism, energy, opportunity, and simple living.
Making a strong stand for simpler living, Dr. Paulson writes, “Far too many people spend years gathering more things to fit into increasingly bigger houses only to spend their later years getting rid of things and craving simplicity and satisfying relationships. Why wait? Claim a little more simplicity now; avoid the wasted cost and stressful aggravation involved in competing for who can own the most toys and the biggest mansion.”
Commitments in Action
The Optimism Advantage focuses on putting commitments into action. Optimists live “action imperative” and have a continual bias towards action. Instead of over-analyzing what to do, or lamenting their situation, optimists get busy doing.
Paulson shared a story of a housewife who was overwhelmed by the clutter and her commitment to bring sanity to her living space. She picked a room, set her kitchen timer for 5 minutes, and got started bringing order to her life.
She continued for another ten minutes, after the bell went off, and was proud of going beyond what she had planned. She was pleased with her results and kept increasing her time commitment. She took back her world one room at a time.
Overcoming Adversity
Optimism isn’t motivational hype; it comes from a track record of overcoming adversity and challenges one day, one choice at a time. The more challenges you overcome, the more confidence you have that you can do more.
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Jeff Davidson is the world's only holder of the title "The Work-Life Balance Expert®" as awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is the premier thought leader on work-life balance, integration, and harmony.
Jeff speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the effectiveness of their people. He is the author of Breathing Space, Simpler Living, Dial it Down, and Everyday Project Management. Visit www.BreathingSpace.com for more information on Jeff's keynote speeches and seminars, including:
Managing the Pace with Grace®
* Achieving Work-Life Balance™
* Managing Information and Communication Overload®
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