Optimism Part 5

This is the fifth article in a series on applying The Optimist Creed to help you succeed in your life and career. You can find all ten points of The Optimist Creed in the first article in this series.

The Optimist Creed Point 4

“Promise yourself to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.”

In other words, think of the glass as half full. Last December, Cathy and I went to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. We saw a stage production of the Irving Berlin classic film musical, White Christmas.

There is a number in the show where one of the leading men is comforting a small girl who is having trouble sleeping. In a song, he tells her, “When you can’t sleep, count your blessings, not sheep.” On the way home, we were talking about that song. We know that we are blessed. However, sometimes we forget how much we are blessed. We both decided that we would begin counting our blessings when we felt down.

Counting your blessings and not sheep is a great first step to “look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.” Realizing that you are blessed and that there is a sunny side is a good first step. However, don’t forget the second part of the quote – “make your optimism come true.”

Optimism can put you on the path to success, but hard work is will keep you moving forward. In my book "Straight Talk for Success: Common Sense Ideas That Won’t Let You Dow
", I discuss the importance of taking personal responsibility for your life and career.

It’s simple, really. Success is all up to you, and me, and anyone else who wants it. We all have to take personal responsibility for our own success. I am the only one who can make me a success. You are the only one who can make you a success.

Personal responsibility means recognizing that you are responsible for your life and the choices you make. It means that you realize that while other people and events have an impact on your life, these people and events don’t shape your life. When you accept personal responsibility for your life, you own up to the fact that how you react to people and events is what’s important. And you can choose how you react to every person you meet and everything that happens to you.

The common sense point here is simple. Look on the sunny side, count your blessings, see the glass as half full. Then, take personal responsibility for doing the work to make your optimism come true.n