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A warning to optimists – introduction
Are you so blinded by your optimism that it’s keeping you from making real progress in your life? Could the actual fact that you simply are so positive in your outlook be a liability instead of an asset? that would all depend upon whether or not you're making the simplest use of your current reality.
Optimism may be a tendency to expect the simplest possible outcome or linger over the foremost hopeful aspects of a situation. To use Oscar Wilde’s very practical example, “The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!” I even have generally considered optimism to be an honest thing and an attitude that everybody should attempt to have or develop. This belief remains valid, but recently I discovered that it might be even as much of a drawback as pessimism if it's not handled properly.
A warning to optimists – the bubble bursts
It was last Christmas that my father bought me a book by Jim Collins titled “Good to Great.” initially I dismissed it as only one of these business books that’s filled with impractical theories and analysis, but once I finally got round to reading it i used to be astounded by its simplistic wisdom and practicality.
One chapter especially , entitled “Confront the brutal facts” is what broke my long held views on optimism. there's a story during this chapter about Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was the very best ranking us officer within the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner of war camp during the Vietnam War . During his eight year imprisonment from 1965 to 1973, Admiral Stockdale endured severe torture and led his men with courage so as to make sure that as many of them survived as possible.
Many years after the war he was asked by the author of the book, Jim Collins, which men didn't make it out of the war prison. His answer was surprising. He said “Oh, that’s easy, the optimists.” Wait a minute; i assumed the optimists are always those who make it? Admiral Stockdale went on to mention that “You must not ever confuse faith that you simply will prevail within the end - which you'll never afford to lose – with the discipline to confront the foremost brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they could be.”
Stockdale explained that the optimists died of a broken heart within the prisoner of war (POW) camps because they believed they might be out by Christmas, but Christmas would come and yuletide would go. Then they might say they might be out by Easter, but Easter would come and Easter would go. Then it had been Thanksgiving then on, until finally they lost all hope and gave abreast of life.
So it's with most optimists and dreamers in their lives. They believe that this year are going to be the year their dreams come true, but this year comes and this year goes. Then it's subsequent year and therefore the cycle repeats itself everywhere again. because the Bible says in Proverbs “hope deferred maketh the guts sick: but when the will cometh, it's a tree of life.” So with every passing year that our hopes and dreams don’t come true our hearts get broken, until eventually we hand over on our dreams, and life itself.
A warning to optimists – the Stockdale Paradox
The Admiral’s insight has come to be referred to as the Stockdale Paradox: “Retain faith that you simply will prevail within the end, no matter the difficulties AND at an equivalent time, confront the foremost brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they could be.” most of the people would relate to and accept as true with the primary a part of the paradox, but the second part is usually not realised by many. it's a crucial ape-man and one you'd had best to always remember and utilize.
You should always know that things will compute within the end, but realise that it's you that's getting to make them compute within the end. Therefore, things won't compute without your intervention. the sole way you'll intervene and know what to try to to is by realising what gap exists between where you're now and where you would like to be.
A warning to optimists – face the brutal facts
It requires total honesty with yourself to assess your current situation in reference to your dream. Is there anything you're doing today which will assist you to urge closer to your dream a year from now? Is your current reality in line together with your destination? Consider this example: There might be two people that both run a business and need to form 1,000,000 dollars over subsequent twelve months. One may simply continue operating the business because it is working today and easily hope that during a year’s time things will devour and somehow he will have more business. He would be the classic optimist. the opposite will analyse his business, determine its weaknesses and improve on his services and products so as to succeed in his target. Who is more likely to succeed? The one who faced the unpleasant realities of his business and made the required change is more likely to succeed.
That is the approach that's necessary in our own lives. Honestly and brutally assess your current situation. Face the hard facts. Jimmy Dean said: “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Don’t be a blind optimist. Utilize each side the Stockdale Paradox and do what's necessary to succeed because, as Jim Collins states, “The Stockdale Paradox may be a signature of all those that create greatness, be it in their own lives or in leading others.”
A warning to optimists –conclusion
If you're an optimist you're already half way there. Just do the remainder . If you're a pessimist the journey are going to be slightly harder, but not impossible. Remember that it's better to be an optimist who is usually wrong than a pessimist who is usually right. Learn from the wisdom of great men like Norman Vincent Peale, who advises that you simply “throw back the shoulders, let the guts sing, let the eyes flash, let the mind be lifted up, look upward and tell yourself ... nothing is impossible!
You are all you'll be. continue and be it.
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