Attitudes And Optimism

On a summer morning I sat on the patio with my coffee, and witnessed a remarkable event. A leaf slowly moved across the concrete as if it were floating on air. It stopped as it encountered a deep crack in its path. As I watched, a small ant emerged from under the leaf and checked out this obstacle to progress.

After a lot of activity, the ant went back under the leaf, pushed it part way over the crack, navigated the crack itself and pulled the leaf the rest of the way over. He then picked up his cargo and carried on.

That leaf was easily twenty times bigger than the ant. That crack seemed a mile wide in relation to this little adventurer. What struck me was the single-mindedness of his activities. He was certain that the best possible outcome would prevail. It probably never occurred to the ant that any other outcome was possible - its task would be carried out no matter what happened.

Optimism in people works the same way. The difference with humans is that we have the ability of abstract thought. How many times have you stopped yourself from doing something you wanted to because you "thought" it wasn't possible? How many times have you missed making a dream come true because you "thought" you couldn't do it? Our ant didn't think about it, he simply did something about it, and then moved on to his next step.

Thinking happens in one's head, whereas action happens in the physical world of people, places and things. There is an enormous difference between the two. For our discussion we can say the difference is motion. How many times have you had an idea and not acted on it? Until you move on your thoughts, nothing can change. Not until action is taken.

Optimism is acting on your hopes and dreams, with the attitude that the best outcome will prevail. And if you make mistakes, so what? It isn't written in stone you can't make mistakes, or you must get it right every time. Making mistakes is vital to learning an optimistic attitude. Many of us believe we are the way we are - period. Nothing is further from the truth. Anything can be changed, if you give it enough time, effort and love.

Love and optimism are tied together. This is especially true when we apply optimism to self-love. It isn't possible to have optimism when we believe we are not worth the effort, or considered selfish if we do something for ourselves. Another word for optimism is permission.

When you are optimistic you give yourself permission to stretch yourself - to push against your bubble - to do something about your dreams. Even when there is fear surrounding your dreams, attempt it. Courage is not absence of fear. Courage is moving on your dreams in spite of fear. Fear hasn't killed anyone yet, so why would it start now? Develop optimism, and watch your world change for the better.

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