Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice -4/8/05 - Overdoing Optimism

[Guest guest]

Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice - " Overdoing Optimism "

We talk a lot about positive thinking on the Winner's Circle daily e-mail.

Seeking to be positive and optimistic are valuable allies in keeping

depression away. But is it possible to be too positive? Let's look at the

idea of overdoing optimism.

Positive thinking is definitely a good thing, but when it comes to being

positive, can you overdo it? Can you have too much of this particular good

thing? Of course you can. I know plenty of people whose reckless optimism

got them into trouble, and I'll bet you do, too.

These are the folks who borrow too heavily, fail to anticipate possible

problems, and never take off their rose-colored glasses, even for a moment,

to check on current reality.

Tough-minded optimists, on the other hand, have learned to anticipate

problems. They believe in doing all they can to make a bad situation better,

but even more importantly, they believe in planning ahead to avoid bad

situations whenever possible.

So when you're planning for the future - whether it's making an investment,

interviewing a job applicant, or working out a color scheme for your new

apartment, think about worst-case scenarios. Ask yourself some

discriminating questions like, " What potential problems exist here? How

might this be improved? Is there some way this could backfire? Will this

look as good to me after some time has passed as it does right now? "

This is not negative thinking or cynicism. This is the kind of enlightened

self-interest that heads off problems before they develop.

Lou Tice

The Pacific Institute

www.thepacificinstitute.com

" TPI teaches people how to manage change, set and achieve goals, lead more

effectively, and think in ways that create success. "

Blessings,

Charlene

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