What decision did you make? Did you jump? Did step back from the edge?
This gut intuitive thought can revel quite a bit about our perspective on life.
Fear of falling could mean:
- You are risk adverse, cautious, and conservative in nature
- You are pessimistic, need certainty in life, and fear the unknown
- You feel like life is passing you by and something is keeping you from being happy
Ready to jump could mean:
- You are a risk taker, throw caution to the wind, spontaneous and adventurous
- You are more optimistic, less stuck in your ways, and embrace the unknown
- You happily embrace and live life to the fullest
Do these descriptions match how you view yourself?
Starting on a journey of self-actualization requires that we not only address and change our unwanted behaviors, it requires we adopt a positive optimistic attitude on life.
Positive optimism is deeply rooted in every successful person. You know these people. Nothing ever seems to get them down. When you are around them, you can’t help but become positive yourself. You enjoy your time with them and look forward to the next encounter. Their positive energy gives you energy.
Take a minute and reflect on these quotes by some famous successful people.
“The real man smiles in trouble, gather strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection” - Thomas Paine
“You see things; and you say “why?” But I dream of things that never were, and I say “Why not?” - George Bernard Shaw
“The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious of the rose”- Kahlil Gibran
“A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties” – Harry Truman
“Optimism is the foundation of courage” – Nicholas Murray Butler
“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier” - Colin Powell
These quotes provide priceless insight into how these men embraced a life of positive optimism. This is exactly how we are supposed to embrace life.
What is keeping you from having a positive optimistic energetic life?
To begin answering this question, you need to take an energy inventory.
1) Build a list of what energizes you. List descriptors and characteristics, not specific people or events.
a. What types of people ignite it?
b. What situations do?
c. What moods or emotions do you feel?
d. Where does this show up in your body? What sensations do you feel?
2) Build a list of what zaps your energy. List descriptors and characteristics, not specific people or events.
a. What type of person drains it?
b. What situations do?
c. What moods or emotions do you feel?
d. Where does this show up in your body? What sensations do you feel?
Please feel free to share your reflections when answering these questions by commenting on this post.
We will build on this exercise in next week’s post.
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