“Remember, a person who wins success may have been discarded many times before. He wins because he refuses to give up.” – Kemmons Wilson (1913-2003) American founder of Holiday Inn hotels
Optimism is the ability to see the positive side of events or situations. Optimistic people generally have the belief that ultimately good prevails over evil in the world. They look for solutions instead of being overwhelmed by the problem. The unrealistic optimism of the Pollyanna strain will ignore the signs of impending difficulties with idealistic beliefs such as: smokers who believe on some level that their bodies are resistant to cancer; or buyers who accumulate a large debt for spending beyond their means; or ignoring the signs that it would be wise to begin a career search when there is a reduction in your current occupational field.
Optimism is what goes into your vision of a future based on your word. You will need optimism to see beyond what is and create a vision from what seems unlikely. There are major changes happening NOW! If you’re an unrealistic optimist who thinks life and careers are going to be the way they were before the economic downturn, that’s not going to happen! Nothing stays the same. Major changes are wake-up calls to listen from within and achieve desired results.
Resilience is the power or ability to easily recover from illness, depression, adversity, or the like. Resilience has elasticity, buoyancy. Studies show that resilient people are healthier, perform better at work and school, are less likely to suffer from depression, earn more in sports, and are optimistic. The elasticity of resilience is powerful. At first I was thinking about the elasticity of a rubber band. So I thought not because a rubber band is restricted to its circumference. I see resilience extending beyond the comfort zone of a known circumference into new possibilities. To go further is to transcend. It requires resilience, because it is a journey into the unknown where doubt and fear can attack you.
Leadership is inherent in everyone because it is the call to be true to oneself through self-awareness. By developing self-awareness, you will recognize the leader who is as a teacher, inspiration, mover and shaker, activist, making the difference you want to see happen and much more. The status quo has been upset calling for new leadership. Trying to recover the unsuccessful. You are the new leader who is creative, resourceful, and full of possibilities.
Leadership, resilience and optimism are the main characteristics necessary to transcend to futuristically rewarding levels on a personal, professional and global level.
Tips and Questions to Build Resilience, Optimism, and Leadership
* Be curious. When you are curious, you ask questions. Questions lead to resources, leading to more questions, guiding you to solutions, surprises, challenges, rewards, relationships, and full game. Remember when you were little and you kept asking, “Why?” and again. When did you stop being curious about something beyond your circle of perspectives?
* Check your underlying beliefs regarding who you think you are. Surprisingly, most people have scars from their childhood that manipulate their adult life and keep them stuck. Scars are tapes that say something like, “I’m not good enough.” “I’m not smart enough.” “I can’t because …..” “I’m not old enough or I’m too old.” You get the idea. These scars are plugs. They are connecting your essence as a leader. You are smarter than you think.
* Wherever you are, there you are. At any time you can choose who you want to be. Are you someone who wants to be part of the solution or someone who is a follower with no say in the matter? Do you give in to the negativity that is sweeping the media? See what is working. View your strengths and values as resources for developing your leadership.
* Remember a time when you faced adversity that you overcame. I don’t know of anyone who has not been challenged by some kind of misfortune. I affirm that resilience, optimism and leadership were present in overcoming the situation or event. Where are you now? And how can you use them today to be the success that you are meant to be?
* If you are undecided about what you want, write down what you don’t want. Examine what you don’t want and, from there, ask yourself: “If you don’t want what you wrote, what do you want?” After you’ve done an examination of conscience, write a vision statement that inspires you enough to take action.
* Play a bigger game and be the winner you are destined to be. After all: anything is possible!
“If you’ve built castles in the air, you don’t need to lose your job; that’s where they should be. Now put the foundation under them.” – Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American writer and philosopher