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Choosing Optimism as a Philosophy of Life

A Skills Development Moduleby Michel Listenberger

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Workshop Overview

• Optimist Assessment Quiz• Promise and Commitment• Developing Self-Esteem• Sharing Optimism• Your Uniqueness• Your Mission for a better World

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Pessimism vs. Optimism

Pessimism: “More than at any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”

Woody Allen

Optimism: Live a positive life and develop relationships guided by the “Optimist Creed”

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I. Optimist Assessment QuizWhere are you Now?

• I am ----• I can ----• I value ----• I see ----• I appreciate ----• I greet ----• I laugh ----• I feel ----

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Introductions

Introduce yourself and tell something specific that you like about yourself.

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What is Optimism?

? Your Definition ?

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What is the Value of Optimism to you and those around you?

? Value ?

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II. Choosing Optimism – Promise and Commitment

• 1911- First Optimist Club in Buffalo, NY

• 1919- Optimist International formed in Louisville

• 1922- “Optimist Creed” adopted in in Kansas City

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Our First Choice of the Day

What is our reaction to our Alarm Clock ringing?

“Good morning, God”

or

“Good God, it’s morning”

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The Invisible Coin

• PMA – Positive Mental Attitude

• NMA – Negative Mental Attitude

• It’s your choice!

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What positive attitudes and actions can you take?

Your television cable went out and will be down for the next week!

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Pollyanna Optimism

• Expects outcomes without regard for practicality

• Soft-headed delusions versus pragmatic realism

• Disillusion and Cynicism versus positive expectation

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Promise Yourself

• You have chosen Optimist International Affiliation• The “Creed” is Ten Promises to Yourself• Benefits are directly proportional to your dedication

“If it is to be, it is up to me!”

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III. Developing Self-Esteem

Write down things that: – you worry about– are causing anger– you fear– are causing trouble in your life

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

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Activity – Letting Go

• Write on a small piece of paper a personal worry, fear or trouble that you would like to get rid of right now

• Roll up the paper and insert into a balloon• Blow up the balloon• All together release balloons (duck!)• Pick up a balloon that is not your color• Write a supportive anonymous reply on card• Place cards in back of room to be picked up

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Don’t Sit on Your “Buts”!!

• “But” is an argument for our limitations and a justification for retreat.

• Release yourself of “But’s”relatives:– Could’ve …– Would’ve …– Should’ve … done such and such

Source: Les Brown

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Self-Talk Cycles

• Affirmations– If you say it– Your subconscious mind

will believe it– And you will achieve it!

• Language of Affirmation– Use the pronoun “I”– Use present tense verbs– Use action modifiers Source: Shad Helmstetter in

“The Self-Talk Solution”

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Affirmation Exercise #1

Change this negative “self-talk” to positive:

• Negative:

I’m no good at remembering names.

• Positive:

I am learning names more easily by repeating names of new people I meet.

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Affirmation Exercise #2

• Write something you would like to achieve in the next few weeks.

• Write down one or more affirmations about yourself that will set the stage for the realization of this goal.

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Seeing with the Mind’s Eye

• “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve” - Napoleon Hill

• Visualization or Imaging is the ability to see something in the “mind’s eye.”

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

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Exercise in “Seeing”

• Write a brief statement of the kind of person that you would like to be.

• Close your eyes and picture yourself as that individual

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Never Give Up!

• “If someone told you life was going to be one smooth, easy ride, I’ve got a special announcement; they lied!”

– Les Brown

• “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

– Thomas Edison

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

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Failure Can Breed Success

• Failed in Business• Defeated for Legislature• Failed in another

business• Elected to legislature• Sweetheart died• Had a nervous

breakdown

Every failure teaches something: the more we fail, the more we learn!

Consider Abe Lincoln:

• Defeated for Speaker• Defeated for Elector• Defeated for Congress• Defeated for Senate• Defeated for Vice President• Defeated for Senate

ELECTED PRESIDENT OF USA!

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Let the Past Pass

• Learn from our mistakes - remember the lesson but forget the incident.

• “When life knocks you down, you should always try to land on your back because if you can look up, you can get up!” - Les Brown

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

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Peace of Mind

The Serenity Prayer:

“Lord grant me the courage to change what can be changed, the patience to accept what cannot be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

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Group Exercise: Make Two Lists

Things we can change!• • • • • • •

Things we can’t change!• • • • • • •

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IV. Sharing Optimism with Synergism

• Founders: share Optimism with others

• “Win-Win” Optimism: looks for circumstances that allow all to win!

Stephen Covey, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

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Win-Win Exercise

How does the Friend win?• • • • • • •

How does the Member win? • • • • • •

An Optimist member is inviting a friend to join his club. Set up a Win-Win situation for both.

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Friendships – Reciprocal Empowerment

Exercise: Each person tell the person on their right what they like about them.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

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Smile!!!

“You can’t get out of life alive. So why not enjoy it and help others to enjoy it as well.”

Les Brown

Exercise: Give the person next to you your best smile and hold it for 4 seconds!

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

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“A Smile” by Monica Hunter (at age 10)

To give a smile means, “You’re O.K.”To get a smiles will brighten your day.

A smile can turn the world around,Or cheer up someone who’s feeling down.

And, if you happen to disagree,Just give a smile and you will see!

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Humor as a Healer

• Humor shows medical results, even laugh therapy

Exercise:–Think of the funniest joke or story that you’ve heard lately.–Share it with the group.

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Being Enthusiastic

• Enthusiasm from Greek root “in God”: Enthusiastic spirit was a God-like quality within that person’s soul.

• Activity: List the signs of an enthusiastic person. Can these be learned as part of your behavior?

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

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V. Your Uniqueness – Self-Concept

• Attitude determines altitude. John Reel, Past International President

• With the “wind” of Optimism beneath your wings, you can fly high like an Eagle and “Soar with Optimism”

Charles Wiles, Past International President

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

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Your Coat-of-Arms

• Your Current Strengths, talents, skills and assets

• Strengths, skills and abilities you can develop

• Your Personal Legacy

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Your Mission for a Better World

• “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one”

• Will it provide:– Ultimate personal fulfillment?– Change in the lives of young people?– Foster a more caring community?– Will it make for a better World?

• The path of Optimism may not always be easy but it can define your worth as an individual

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The Optimist CreedPromise Yourself -

• To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind

• To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet

• To make all your friends feel that there is something in them

• To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true

• To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best

• To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own

• To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future

• To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile

• To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others

• To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.