On a More Optimistic Note.....

A link from Time's Tweeter caught my attention, Overrated Optimism: The Perils of Positive Thinking. Intrigued, I clicked on the link and read on. On my mind was what can be the perils?

I know that positivity resulting to complacency is one. It can be detrimental if all one does is sit all day, do nothing but just give oneself sweet talk that good fortune will come like magic. That will cause agitation at least for me.

The article as I understand it commented on certain groups of people and even organizations whose reading of positivism became more of wishful thinking to the point of sugar coating words thinking of this as motivation and optimism.

What comes to mind are the two leaders I encountered in my corporate life.

Mr. Action Man simply inspires the organization, from the lowest level up to the top management. He kept the flame, which was already quickly fading, so alive for the people once again.

We can attribute his charisma to sheer sincerity of his intentions. He is a man for others and truly an action man. He was very sensible and charismatic without being big on words. His words are not rehearsed but always with so much wisdom. His very presence vibrate positivity.

The work environment suddenly turned from tired and worried to one that is dynamic, positive and harmonious. True enough, our organization turned around barely six months after he assumed CEO position. The company made its profit after years of being in the red.

Then the torched was passed on to another leader. I commend her attitude for trying to reach out to everyone in the organization. I just don't know why her sincerity cannot be felt. She is good in delivering speeches, in making presentations but none of these were able to ignite the passion the organization once had. Even the middle managers do not feel any vibrancy on her leadership.

A leader cannot just be full of positivism and words to live by but lacking concrete and effective directions. The people will readily perceive false optimism.

Mr. Action Man managed to put actions into his words. He gets things done without much ado. He is very positive that the action plans will work and he, together with the whole organization, worked hard to make them real.

I can see where the article is coming from.

True, there were a lot of factors why the organization went back to being in the red. This is not to say it was just about the change in leadership. For one, the employees across all ranks and departments have their roles to play. The economy, the competition were the biggest hurdles (but that's why there are CEOs and executive committee).

But regardless of all these, an honest to goodness positive attitude and management are still possible as we have already proven.

"Stuff happens" as mentioned in the Time article but positivity cannot be discounted. Sobriety, when called for, should not harm our passion. Keep faith and optimism alive. Stuff happens and you start to be negative about everything, you're doomed. I still choose positivity. What else is there in the first place?

That's the point I want to deliver when it comes to creating and implementing positivity in our lives, professionally and personally. Positivity is bringing out the best in a situation, implementing actions with conviction with an unwavering faith and belief to what God can do in helping us achieve our goals.

One thing that did not sit well with me in this Time article was the way life coaches like Joel Osteen and Tony Robbins were regarded. These people live what they preach and they are not out there just to sweet talk the people. I did not mean to say the article implied something like that. But it felt like it downgraded how powerful and real life coaches like them are able to share to the people who listen and reflect.

"Optimism was not only patriotic, it was a Christian virtue, or so we learned from the proliferating preachers of the "prosperity gospel," whose God wants to "prosper" you. In 2006, the runaway bestseller The Secret promised that you could have anything you wanted, anything at all, simply by using your mental powers to "attract" it. The poor listened to upbeat preachers like Joel Osteen and took out subprime mortgages. The rich paid for seminars led by motivational speakers like Tony Robbins and repackaged those mortgages into securities sold around the world." *Overrated Optimism

I do believe that God wants to prosper us. God is good all the time. I will let this post end with this question again, tell me, what better else is there to believe? I will always choose positivity and being optimistic the way I stated it two paragraphs above. They are still more practical choices if I may say that.