Optimism? Pessimism? What’s Yer ‘Mism? (video/giveaway post).

by

Thanks so much for all your comments on Friday.

I had a fantastic family-filled birthday Saturday (one which started with a kind tribute-post that had me LAUGHING OUT LOUD).

This comment from Friday’s post stuck in my mind throughout the weekend:

Sounds as though you have already chosen to view your life through the prism of gratitude and happiness.

I do think that’s true.

I adore my life and yet can entirely see someone else looking at it from the outside and thinking:

Really? You’re *that* excited about it?!  huh. It looks as though your life could get a mite repetitiveboring at times.

All of life, in my opinion, comes back to how we choose to view our world .

(insert your rant *here* about how we’re chemically predestined to view the world in a particular fashion. Lay it on me. Ive heard it all before…)

I have chosen to be an optimist.

And that’s my question to you: Optimism? Pessimism? What’s yer ‘mism?

Now the give-away.

My *favorite* part is that, in a way, the give has absolutely nothing to do with the post.

My *favorite* part is that, in a way, the give is 100% the backdrop of the post.

My cup isnt half full it is running over.

It’s this overflow (see below) I’m completely excited—especially in this economy—to send your way.

prize-pack-1

You can be entered to the Fitness Magazine Prize Pack (Fitness Magazine subscription, cosmetic bag, umbrella, apron, hat, notebook, and massager) for the lowlow price of a comment below.

Lay it on me, People: Optimism? Pessimism? What’s yer ‘mism?

(USA only Winner announed Tuesday 7.21)

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Comments

  1. lol – my cup runneth over too!!! But, I do try to see everything with a “half-full” perspective. I can’t imagine getting though life and all it throws at us without this attitude.

  2. For sure I am a glass half full. I honestly try to see the silver lining in everything-even when things are shitty (appropriately explained in today’s post)- I do try to ‘pour some’ into others’ glasses occasionally, that is certainly something that I am trying to do more often as I age.

    My favorite phrase (similar to one of your affirmations) is “Enjoy and appreciate what the world has to offer” This is not a licence to eat/drink/ do whatever you feel like but if we think of more as sample what the world has to offer and you think of every experience as a little sampling then it really changes your perspective.

    Love the post today Miz.

  3. I am definitely an optimist! I think I went through a stage in my life when pessimism ruled for a while, but I am generally an optimist by nature.

    And yes, it can be a choice. Life ismuch happier when seen through the eyes of positivity. 🙂

  4. Begrudgingly optimistic. Never fails, going about my by- nature-a-pessimist type day, then boom, God/higher power/whomever shoves someone in my face as a blatant illustration of how damn lucky I am. This has been going on almost daily my entire adult life. And this reminds me that I’m lucky this happens…

  5. I think I am a weird mixture of half empty/half full (what is that – a quarter full?).

    I do generally have an optimistic attitude, but I am realistic about things and try to dampen down my optimism! Crazy thinkin, am going to stop that right now. Heretoforth it is going to be glass overflowing all the way!

    Love that you are encouraging Tornado to be open to the world, that is fabulous.

  6. I have my own personal brand of magic that I like to call ‘DOOFUSISM’ – this generally involves pootling along with the best of intentions and efforts, making mistakes, laughing it off and trying again – see recent blog post!

    love Lizzie xxxx

  7. Can we retrain our brain? My answer would be ASOLUTELY YES!

    Am I half emptied or half full by nature? Good question. I always look for the positive in all and every situation, BUT I make sure I am also viewing things realistically.
    I have made mention of this before that my childhood was not one of positive reinforcement so I always try to instill that positive confidence in my children but again with a realistic perspective. We do live in a world with really bad things and do not want them thinking everyone and everything will always turn out perfect, but it is all in how we deal with what comes our way, making lemonade from lemons I feel is the most important and facing things head on as they truly are.

  8. I’m going “positivism”! For me, life is all about seeing the good in the world (although there are moments!). Our world is such an amazing place, I can’t help but see this all through the lens of what is possible!

    Welcome to the next year of your completely amazing life Miz!!

  9. LOVE THE PICTURES YOU LINKED!!

    I am going to step up and say that, by nature, I think I am more pessimistic.

    I work daily to try and see k the silver lining in my life and it is worth it.

    Mere

  10. I am a positive person. I believe that it is a law of the universe that like energy attracts like engery. That’s all we are really, just balls of energy. I TRY to approach life remembering that there is enough good for EVERYONE!! The abundance approach to life helps me with that positive attitude. It also is good for treating other disorders of the SELF…lol

    It also helps for me to know that I was ceated by a God who knows me and loves me. What could be more positive then that!

  11. Funny that the first thing I did notice is that you aren’t wearing a black tanktop!!

    I am in between.

    I think I let others sway my perspective on the world and my outlook too much.

    My husband is an avowed pessimist who tries to convince me that by expecting nothing I will never be disappointed.
    I am trying not to be my husband.

    great video, Miz!

  12. And that birthday post for you is HILARIOUS.

    The pipecleaner glasses?

    You have some fun readers and I’m glad to be one of them.

    (See? I am optimistic.)

  13. Ya’ll went out in matching outfits? That is AWESOME! I’m working on a more optimistic view of life..I’m getting there!! I think I will win that prize pack (optimistic ;)).

  14. Can we change how we are predestined to see the world?

    This has been a life long struggle for me and one which I am not embarrassed to say YES and it took medication for me.

    I think some of us are wired to see the glass broken as you say and need a little help to get to the ONE QUARTER FULL place.

    I love your blog. Miz.

    Thank you.

  15. How about “fun-ism”!? I never liked the sound of the words “pessimism” or “optimism”. So I came up with my own word, “fun-ism”. I once had a person in my church come up to me and say “I’m so frustrated with you Pastor!” When I asked her “why” she said – “Because you’re just happy all the time and that frustrates me!”

    Dr. Rus

  16. checking in and love how honest you all are.

    Tami? I entirely agree with you and cheer you on in your working to change how you see the world.

    It is a daily choice and effort for all of us I think—-and more of an effort for some.

    you know.

    less of an effort for DR RUS 🙂

    FUN-ISM

    only you.

    we love the Dr Rus….

  17. No need to enter this optimist 🙂
    Wanted to say how funny the tribute post was.
    THOSE GLASSES!!!

  19. Optimist here-I have led a very blessed life! I think it helps that I work in a hospital and see how bad some people really do have it. I think if some “pessimists” could peek into the lives of the really misfortunate sometimes they may change their tune from stressed to blessed as well!

  20. Even though I’m a worrier sometimes, on the whole my glass is half full. But when I really think about my life, my weight loss, my seven children – my glass isn’t half full, it’s overflowing, pouring out the sides and over the table.

  21. I don’t have a cup: I have a gigantic stein so full that I even burn calories mopping up the overflow! It’s not right how optimistic I am, but it certainly is joyful. 🙂

  22. I love the glass overflowing statement and I’m working towards that myself.

    I’m definitely a glass half-full person. Oh, I do get down once in a while, but I bounce back very quickly. I wake up excited about the day and its challenges. My aqua instructor told me again this morning that I have a lot of “heart”. That is one of the nicest things anyone can say to me!

  23. My husband accuses me of being a pessimist, but i think it’s more of being a realist. I do try to find the good in most situations, and i believe that there is always something positive, no matter what the experience or circumstance.

    So i’m definitely a blend of all of them, methinks.

  24. Where did you get those matching outfits?!

    I am an avoided optimist raised by two hardcore pessimists.

    It was a totall choice/reaction.

  25. Just wanted to share my “ism. It’s Pessimism!! But only when changing baby’s dirty diaper, doing laundry, and paying bills. I get a little grumpy, but it’s a free country, right?

  26. (How do you manage to get so many comments? Can we get a video on that?)

    Along the same lines I had a blog and closed it because I didn’t get many comments.

    I spiraled into my pessimistic inclination & decided no one was reading.

    I do believe we are genetically predestined to be one way or the other and can work to change.

    Its a lot lot of work.

  27. I want to be an optimist (trying), but I’m not…at least not yet. I recognize the importance as this is a topic I’ve taught about in my psychology aging course several semesters. And, it’s something you *can* change, but it’s really difficult to change something that global about yourself.

  28. Hi Miz,

    HAPPY HAPPY Birthday! again! because you should celebrate your birthday for at least a week! Unless you are under the age of 13, then it is celebrated for a month!

    I am an eternal optimist! I see the good in everything and everyone! This drives my husband crazy, he is skeptical of everything and everyone.

    I don’t think I could do what I do if I wasn’t optimistic. My students have hard lives (to say the least) and I would (sometimes I do) cry for them all the time if I didnt think positively and help them think positively.

    I hope I never stop seeing the good in people!

    <3 jen

  29. I am an optimist most of the time, but when I get down, I can get really down. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen often.

    Now if I happen to be the one selected for the giveaway today, I hope you will let me donate it to my wife. 🙂

  30. Great post for a monday!

    I read Nan’s comment above and immediately thought:

    You get so many comments because you expect them! You view the world as a positive entity.

    I am starting to expect them at my blog now too LOL.

  32. I’m a REALIST. I actually posted about it HERE on Friday.

    In summary:

    I consider myself a bit of a realist. If the glass is half empty, it’s also half full, and vice versa. Sometimes you have to focus on the half empty part and refill it. Sometimes you have to focus on the half full part and drink some.

  33. Oh, and Miz Fit, I have to refer you to my favorite book, Voltaire’s Candide, if you haven’t read it already (or recently)

  34. I have to say I am a bit of a realist. I think that my approach to always asking myself what’s really going on rather than expecting the best or the worst puts me ahead of the game.

    Being a realist also means there won’t be too many surprises because you’ll be anticipating multiple outcomes…I blame this outlook/ism on the LSATs haha.

  35. I used to be something of a pessimist, but managed to change that because I realized it wasn’t a very healthy way of thinking. I think our brains may become hard-wired or predisposed to one way or another based on our experiences, but I think we can rewire them if we want to.

  37. 8 years? that’s crazy! but i believe it! i might be split… i feel optimistic about certain things but i know pessimism sneaks in every so often.

  39. by nature i am a pessimist. I work to overcome this though and try to surround myself with optimists (like you!) to keep my focus on what is really important.

    If i hang out w/negative nellies, I get sucked back into that vortex and find I am not a very happy/fun person.

  40. I’m a reformed Pessimist. As in…when my mom had cancer I learned to appreciate each day and live in the present. It was true gift. Now I choose to dwell on all I have instead of what I don’t. Thanks mom….

  41. Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

    I like radiantism for me! I really try to look at the up side of things (to the annoyance of a lot of people who know me 😀 )

    I really try to take joy in the small things, like warm sunshine or the birds singing – and make sure I notice these things. I really think that you can change your way of thinking, but it takes practice.

  42. its trite but true and I find I say it daily in a laughing away to Ren Man:

    Life is a gift—-thats why its called the present.

  43. I chose happiness & laughter. Even when it’s bleak out there. The alternative is unacceptable.

  44. Half-full and filling. Brains can be retrained, but they can also be influenced by a constant barrage from others. My inlaws see the glass –if there even is one–as barely 1/20th full and cracked. Takes concentration some days to remind myself the world is a wonderful place.

  46. I think people can change, but it is very difficult–requires diligence. Pretty much the same as changing the way you eat permanently.

    I am pretty much an optimist, but I can become very negative if I am overly tired (which happens almost every week d/t LONG work days.) Makes me wonder how much chronic lack of sleep can affect someone’s pessimistic outlook on life.

  47. I refuse to view my existence through fatalistic glasses. I am so danged happy to just have a glass that I don’t care to what degree it’s full.

    My mom and older brother (Raised by Wolves) are two very negative people who find joy rarely. I.will.not.be.them!

    My job is in peril of being reduced to 50% – I’m already trying to figure out how I’m going to counter-attack and get something else going – I refuse to sulk and brood. If it happens, it could be opportunity’s way of saying “hello!”.

    Bring on the challenge and the goodness in life.

  48. I am generally very optimistic. But like many of the other commenters, I try to maintian a realistic view of the world around me. My father’s favorite saying is “Hope/Pray for the best, but be prepared for the worst.” I think I embodied his sentiments a great deal.

  49. Just came over from Cammy’s site. Congrats on turning 40, it is a wonder age, as best as I can remember. I hope to have an opportunity to meet you and Cammy at Blogher. I still have a long way to go in the fitness journey but I’ve come a long way. I know I would not have gotten this far without beliving that I can do it. My glass definitly runs over.

  50. I am a recovering pessimist. I still tend to have days/moments where I tend toward the glass half-empty perspective, but I am trying to be conscious about changing that. It’s weird, but I find that I am full of optimism about the lives of my family and friends but not so quick to be optimistic about myself. That’s kind of sad, huh?

  51. And sorry for two comments, but I don’t want to be entered in the giveaway because I already have a Fitness mag subscription, but I really wanted to answer the question!

  52. I try my darndest to see the cup half full, but sometimes the pessimist in me takes over. But what you are saying about affecting your lives, I absolutely believe that our attitude can impact our health. I know people (like you said with the glass broken), who have completely made themselves sick because of a bad attitude!

  53. This is totally begging for made up words here…. unpredictableism! Well, okay, unpredictable in that I wake up feeling a certain way (negative or positive) but like you said, I have to work to either maintain the positive attitude or get rid of the negative one.

  54. I am a pessimist by nature…striving daily for a cup overflowing! It is possible to retrain your brain! What a great give away! Thanks for the chance and a great topic!

  56. Laughing HARD at this:

    This is totally begging for made up words here…. unpredictableism!

    as you know I totally agree and am always all about the madeupwordnessment.

  57. I’m so glad you had a good birthday! My fave part is where you wrote that you CHOSE optimism. It took me a long time to realize that optimism/pessimism is not an inborn trait but rather something we can change. Like you, I know choose to be optimistic and I love it!

    Happy 40th!!!

  58. I’m really trying to be more optimistic, but I’m mostly pessimistic about most things. I figure if I expect the worst I can’t be disappointed. Sad huh?

  59. I blame it on my parents: pessimist!!!

    I caught the Micheal J. Fox special once again last night on TLC about being an optimist and it is intriguing, but I’ll keep my pessimistic card 😉

  60. I am most definitely an optimist (who is married to a pessimist) and it stresses me out to be around negative people too much. I really try and look on the bright side because it keeps me sane andI try not to worry unless i need to.

  61. Growing up, I had one parent who was very optimistic and one that was very pessimistic. (Needless to say, they didn’t make it long as a couple(. I find that as I grow older, I honestly have a 50/50 mix of the two of them. I tend to become pessimistic over the same things as my mother (money, careers, future) and optimistic about the same things as my father (family, friends and relationships).

    Either way, they both taught me how to be practical and love deeply.

  62. Glad you had a fun-filled birthday! That’s the way it should be. Yay!

    My ‘mism is OPTIMISM for sure! Since I shifted my thinking a few years ago, I’ve had more to be optimistic about and that just breeds optimism.

    I still have moments now and then of self-doubt, complaining, etc., but overall I would classify myself as a very grateful, happy optimist!

  63. I am naturally pessimistic, however I strive to be more optimistic. It’s a struggle that I hope I’m winning.

  64. Skeptical optimist (wait, does that make me a pessimist?). I’m positivehappysmiley much of the time but I’ve got trust issues. So I guess my glass is half full (and yes, sometimes “runnething” over), but the thought occassionally wanders into my mind that the fullness is an illusion.

    …it doesn’t make any sense to me, either.

  65. I am recovering from victim-ism. Spent too much time wallowing in self pity for the things that happened *to* me. I am converting to survivor-ism which has a lot more strength to it! (Don’t enter me for the prize, I just wanted to comment!)

  66. COCKEYED-OPTIMIST here 🙂

    Who also did a double take at the video with you not wearing black.

    I think you are offically MizJohnnyCash to me.

    xo xo,

    Alyssa

  68. right or wrong nothing makes me GRIN EAR TO EAR than the comments which say at the end ‘dont enter me! I just wanted to comment’

    just so you know that entirely makes me smile…

  69. My glass is half-full most of the time…and I have to admit, easily-swayable person that I am, when it seems half-empty, it doesn’t take much for another person to suggest something that makes it half-full again.

    Love your pictures, LOVE the matching tie-dye!!!

  70. My ‘mism? Fit-Mizm. Does that count? 😉

    But seriously, folks, I have to insist on optimism for myself, because I have a tendency to (WAY) overthink things and stew over that which bothers me. To the point where every night I pull out my journal and pick out at least one thing about the day that was positive, even if I thought it was shite. I’m finding it totally possible to train my brain!

    Your cup in particular deserveth to runneth overeth. 🙂

  71. I’m a definite pessimist, but I don’t allow myself to dwell on the negative. But sometimes those little voices just won’t shut up. 😉

  72. i CHOOSE optimism. CHOOSE in all-caps because it is a choice many days. Things happen, but I love knowing that I have the ability to make the choice.

  73. Ok, MizFit, here is one for you 🙂

    No need to enter me.

    I was raised in a family of positive people and always struggled to follow suit.

    In my opinion it is all chemical for me.
    I recently and finally started antidepressants and my world has brightened.

    I don’t know if this is a permanent thing for me or not but I can finally say I am an optimist.

    It was a tremendous decision for me and has changed my life.

    Kari

  74. Optimism feels better, and is easier. It takes so much more energy to be pessimistic.

  76. Hoping for the best but expecting the worst – I’m not sure what that makes me. But I’m trying not to focus so much on how the outside world affects me – not always a battle I win.

  77. I’m definitely an optimist. In fact, I think I’m so optimistic sometimes it annoys people. But hey, you only live once right why be angry all the time right? Happy Birthday!

  78. I’m an optimist to a fault (as in, I’d take a job that is everything I’m not looking for, assuming that I’d find something about it to love). However, I do have bouts of realism, in which I face face reality head on, and get a littel upset about it, only then to remember that I control how I will deal with it… and have the optimism return. (And no, I swear this isn’t bipolar!)

  79. Me? I consider myself a realist. I like to live in the here and now, the reality that is currently happening, and not focus too much on either the future or the past. Oh, sure, I like to think about the past and plan for the future, but I don’t dwell on the things I can’t control.

    Still, I am generally a happy and optimistic person overall. I don’t do well around overly pessimistic people and like to be around optimists.

  80. Definitely optimism. But I don’t always find it easy. It is kind of like your earlier post about worrying. There are things that I worry about, definitely the things I have no control over, and I don’t know how to let go of that. It isn’t productive, or helpful, but I can’t seem to let go. But I am an optomist and can’t stand it when people are negative.

  82. I am definitely an optimist by nature. Things have been very tough for us lately but I have been striving to find the silver lining in even the darkest clouds. Sometimes I have to keep it to myself because it drives my husband crazy (“yes, we need a new rear windshield that we can’t afford, but at least you weren’t IN the car when the baseball crashed through the window!”) but I know that even with our struggles we are truly blessed and being positive brings about positive.

  84. Oooh I would love to win the snazzy Fitness Mag swag!

    But since I am generally a glass half empty kinda girl, I probably won’t. I can’t help it, I generally am much of a pessimist. It is something that I would on everyday!

    Life is too short to see things so negatively all the time!

  85. Well, the glass analogy has never struck a chord with me. I just don’t think I’m one or the other. Little things like traffic delays don’t bother me – I just am thankful we’re okay – but big things can be harder to cheerfully shrug off. A very tough six months at work just passed, and it really got to me. But, I just kept thinking how lucky I am to have such a great marriage.

    no need to enter me.

  86. I think I’m usually an optimist, but let pessimism get the better of me when I’m tired/cranky, etc. I much prefer myself as an optimist. I absolutely think it’s a decision.

  87. No need to enter me 🙂 I just wanted to add that I’ve always been leery of the too optimistic at heart 🙂

    What that says about me I’m not certain.

  88. Wow- Great question!
    By nature, my glass is half empty but…in thinking about how I was raised, it could be a learned behaviour. I know first hand that there is a difference in health. My husband’s glass is overflowing. ( Thank god some of his spills in to mine!) We eat the same way, take the same vitamins mostly, are both physically active and live clean. He’s way healthier, though!! I’m the one struggling with the colds, flu’s, body soreness, etc. I’ve often questioned him, “how can I be like you?” I don’t want to be a pess…in fact I try very, very hard not to be. I’ve seen the difference in many situations and most people who have the toughest lives, are pessi’s. I think I need to verbally make the choice daily or perhaps moment by moment. This totally does not come naturally but I believe our brains can be reprogramed. I’ve reprogramed other things so why not this? Persistence-it takes 21 days to make or break new habits.

    Thanks for the journey!

  89. Depending on the situation, I can be either. I try really hard to be optimistic, but I also try to prepare myself for worst-case scenario, just so that I’m prepared. I like being prepared!

  90. i am optimistic in everything, but love..i am kinda a mix between pessimism and optimism in that department…too many times my heart’s been broken or disappointed…but funny thing is, i love being single and always ready to mingle lol!

  91. optimism! I’m constantly saying “It could be worse”. I suppose that could be skewed either way, but I consider myself an optimist 🙂

  93. I think the best years are still ahead of us! I’m definitely optimistic and hubby and I live by the words, “It is what it is”. I imagine that is why we have been married for almost 13 years and have never had a fight. Could have something to do with our way of thinking yes?

    Like someone else mentioned above, I can’t stand to be around negative people. It’s a waste of time and I try my best to not allow those type of people into my life.

  94. I am definitely an optimist and cheerleader for my friends and family but find that at times I am more negative with myself. I need to work on that.

  96. GREAT POST and I just so love what you do to make your daughter love herself & others.. so cool yet so important as a way for her to grow up loving herself & others but really not knowing that it was something you purposely intended for her but that it was just “her life”. LOVE IT!

    As for the glass thing. I think I have been glass half full & glass half empty at different points in my life. I never have been overflowing.

    I do think that the way you are brought up & how your parents feel about themselves makes a big impact on what happens to you so that is why I love what you do with your daughter. I don’t think it is innate but rather your life experiences AND how the parents/parent felt about themselves.

    My mom was physically & mentally abused so she had a very hard time liking herself & it was apparent as we grew up. I love/loved her (she is no longer alive) but she was not an optimistic person & I see how that effected all the kids in our house as my Dad worked long hours so he was not the primary parent around.

    So, I do think we can change this since I do not think we are born this way but life makes us feel certain ways & we can try to change.

    As for getting older, I don not have any of the problems that the statistics say even though I am not one to embrace getting older with a smile! Now, some of that may be this horrible perimenopause time & the hormones being whacked. Intellectually, I know it is the hormones BUT until you go thru this, there is nothing like it & I never experienced anything like this with PMS. I saw shows when I was younger about how depressed women got & did not understand it until I was going thru it SO I hope this too shall pass!

    Carla, thx for being such a great role model for your daughter & women!!!

    OH, I mentioned you on my post today. Forgot to “e” you about that!

  97. Where the heck have I been? lol I’ve missed ya and need to read more. I try to be an optimist most of the time. Life is to short to be miserable.

  98. Okay you caught me. I preached optimism, I believe in optimism and yet I do find pessimistic statements coming out of my mouth sometimes and creeping into my head. damn it all. I will concer ALL of the pessimistic thoughts!

  99. I try to be more positive every day.

    I do agree with you that it is a daily choice (and struggle).

    No need to enter me.

  100. I know I know I say it all the time but D*MN you are all thoughtful & wise.

    I truly feel that, together, there is nary a problem we can not solve.

    (yep. I said nary. Felt pretty good, too!)

  102. I generally think of myself as an optimist, though my hubby thinks I complain a lot. Everyone’s gotta complain some time, though, and who better to complain to than my closest loved one. After I’m done complaining I’m back to happy and looking on the bright side, I swear.

  103. I have had times in my life I look at the glass half empty but the last few years I am seeing it as half full. Sometimes it is hard to see the fullness of your glass. Little things can seem like they are taking a sip here and a sip there however the level remains the same.
    I am a firm believer that you choose how to percieve your situation. Life is crazy it will get you down and it will be wonderful sometimes all in the same day. The more often you put good out into the world, the more likely it is that it will come back around to you when you need it most. I guess that could be called karma-ism!

  104. awesome giveaway!

    i am definitely an optimist because life is too short and i want to be happy as much as possible!

  106. OPTIMISM!!!! I try to surround myself with optimistic people who help me see the bright side of things in life. Your blog is one of those things that makes my own seemingly normal life lean a little closer to the FABULOUS side! Happy Birthday, Miz!

  109. I’ve had both in my life and I’m still working towards being mostly optimistic. Also someone told me once that pessimists see the world more accurately for what it is, but that an optimist enjoys life more.

  111. I’m very optimistic. I think optimism can be nurtured – if good things happen and you’re surrounded by positive people and happy energy, how can you not grow to expect good things to happen? Sometimes though, I think I’m optimistic in spite of my mom (she always thinks bad things are going to happen)…

  112. Wow, I am really late to the party today!

    Not so many years ago, I yearned, YEARNED for the happy go lucky days of my early 20’s, until I realized that I was cheating myself of the wonderful days of NOW. My happy funny kids, my incredible husband, my wonderful friends (those IRL and in cyberspace) – all are reasons to celebrate my life. I’ve always been a little more optimistic than others, but since I have decided to appreciate the “here and now” I’m sometimes giddy with optimism. So that’s my mism – I choose for my glass to be half full and/or runningeth over! 🙂

  113. I am the glass is half-full. Or at least I try to think my glass is half-full.
    I loved and oh, so needed those mentioned affirmations.

  114. Probably guessed it by the tag name that, by left to my devices, I am a glass is half full, worry wart, negative nelly. I DO get sick and am tired all of the time. So I guess it’s time to start retraining my brain to live those extra 7 1/2 years huh? 🙂 Thank you as always Carla!

  115. I am so appreciative to have found you. This is my first time reading your blog.

    I absolutely believe that you can change your “mism”. I had pretty much given up on life. Then one day I came across a group (about 3 years ago) that totally focusing on how your belief and thoughts can change you life. It has been and still is continual work to reprogram my up bringing; however life is so sweet now I would not have it any other way.

    Have you ever read the story in Think and Grow Rich about Hill’s son? Very interesting.

    Choosing for my glass to be over flowing, so I can pour some into yours – Debi

  116. Totally full and share with others. Every opportuinity is a chance to give love to others as you never know what someone else is going thru

  117. My glass is definitely full pretty much all the time. There are days that I’m not as happy as most, but I always know how blessed I am and that it’s going to get better.

  118. “my glass is overflowing” thing… love.

    Honestly, I’m a bit of a pessimist. Or at least I was. I have found that “fake it till you make it” has really transformed who I am. No, I’m not happy 100% of the time but I am content 100% of the time… life isn’t perfect, but it’s a hellavu lot better than it could be. I believe that when you tell yourself “I will be happy” “I will make the most of this situation” “I will use this pain to learn something” you become a person who truly believes that…

    I know that for me, personally, this attitude has become more natural… it also helps to surround yourself with those who feel the same way (like fab blogging fitmamas I know)… I also think it rubs off on people… I know my ultimate pessimist bf has a much more positive outlook after being influenced by me for the past year or so 🙂

  119. I do a little of both: mostly optimism, with a little realism thrown in which can sometimes be viewed as pessimism. I’m hopeful in some aspects, but I’m also not blind nor stupid, so I refuse to believe something is going to happen or end up just fantastic when it’s not. I guess that’s too vague without going into detail, so I’ll just stick with: optimism and realism! Being pessimistic all the time is a waste of time and energy.

  121. I try for optimism, but I am surrounded by pessimism, so it can be hard sometimes.

    No need to enter me, but I did want to add a HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY!!!!

  122. Optimist here.
    I believe people are good and there is nothing that cannot be redone or fixed.
    I don’t even see the empty part of the glass!

  123. I’m so glad you had a happy birthday! no surprise though….I am an optimist. I had been through some rocky times a ways back. My husband (read best friend)died from pancreatic cancer in 1996. But, eighteen months later I returned with my beautiful 17 month old daughter from China. Who knew? she is growing tall and strong and confident. I hope I helped her along the way. Now she wants to be my fitness coach! My favorite quote is the way I live, ” we must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned and be open to the life that is before us” I really didn’t plan the twists and turns, but I’m glad i’m here regardless.

  124. LOL For a moment I thought that was you in the picture with the Fitness stuff and I thought, ‘wow, that’s one big ass hat.’ LOL That might be tiredism.

    I think that if you never learn to love the moment and how to be in the present, that you will forever be envying what you think you’re missing out on. I think it’s by realizing what’s under our noses is fantastic, that we’re doomed to repeat our mistakes over and over. That includes weight loss. We don’t want to be ourselves or accept ourselves. So we look at everyone else and lament. Thus, we are never satisfied and never filled. Aha! Huh? Yeah. Took me three years to figure that little pearl out.

  126. I take the glass as rising over as you do.
    I use each and every opportunity to give back to the world.
    I strive to get to know more about someone else each and every day.
    My husband had a serious accident three weeks ago. His right patella is broken and the tendon had to be reattached in an operation the next day.
    I am getting to know more and more about him. We have been married since October 72. I enjoy seeing the strength of character he has to survive this setback.
    The physical therapist sees our relationship helping him overcome and using it to perservere.
    Here is to optimism!

  127. I definitely strive to be an optimist. Happiness is a decision, I think. And I love that your cup is ‘overflowing’ . I did some research into this, and found that studies say that ‘happiness’ comes from feeling in control-that is, knowing that although we cannot control all events, we can control our reactions to them.

    I have a 3 step solution to stressful events- remember that some people have it harder (it could always be worse), I appreciate what I do have, and..laugh a bit.

    Love your outlook, and keep rockin those rose-colored glasses!

  128. Thank you for linking. It was fun to do!
    “Getting” cancer turned the tide for me & began the swim towards optimism.
    I was a victim mentality kind of gal until I was sick. Illness gave me back my mental health. How’s that for a paradox?
    It was all a choice … all along & once that is ingrained & your TRUTH … it all falls in to place.
    It’s empowering!!!

  129. since I’ve been exercising and generally been more active, my glass has definitely been more full than empty!

    I’m genuinely excited that I have the life I have – my dream growing up was to be part of a “family”, and my husband made that dream come true when my daughter came into my life. Some days I wait for that shoe to drop, but then I just get up and go for a run. I figure if I’m running, I know where the shoe is! HAHA

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