A man who fell off a skyscraper was heard to say as he passed the 12th floor, “So far, so good!” An optimist.
Actually, I believe in optimism. I believe that there is considerable power in an upbeat attitude, especially when it is grounded in reality.
The late Brian Johnston, a well-known British broadcaster, demonstrated the power of a hopeful outlook. He delighted millions of listeners with his radio programs. He was also a top-class cricket commentator and enthusiast for the game. He once said, “I am a great optimist. Every time I go to a cricket match, I think it is going to be the best game I have ever seen. Of course, it never is, but what pleasure it gives me in anticipation!”
And maybe that is the point. Is he simply playing silly mind games? I don’t think so. Imagine how much more we might enjoy a meal, a book, an outing, a concert, a holiday – if we think these just may be the best we have ever experienced. Maybe they won’t be. But anticipating something no less than wonderful can make all the difference.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox poetically wrote:
One ship sails East,
And another West,
By the self-same winds that blow,
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales,
That tells the way we go.
Set your mental sails to catch favorable winds. Whenever possible, try to look for - and expect - the best. You may discover that things turn out better again and again just because you’ve set higher expectations. And even if you don’t realize the very best, what have you lost? You still get to enjoy the amazing pleasure of anticipation.
-- Steve Goodier
Image: flickr.com/Jon Pinder