Optimism

“I promise myself…

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

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

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

To look at the sunny side of everything and make my 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 I am about my own.

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

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.

To give so much time to improving myself that I 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.

To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.”

– The Optimist’s Creed Christian D. Larson (1874-1954)

 

I think when I am feeling a little low, or down on myself I tend to get frustrated with not having a go-to person to bounce the emotions off of and get that comfort or butt kick that I need. I usually grab a book and thumb through pages of poetry or the inspirational books that I tend to keep on hand.  It is almost like a game…  turn to the page that will somehow speak to you.  Whatever is on that page is my advice for the day.

There are times when the page is the most helpful, poignant bit of written word that I could have hoped for; other times, it is like I went to a drunk relative and this would be the advice or counsel they would have offered.  You have to take the bad with the good, the insane or off-the-wall has to be something you take as a challenge – you are tasked to find the meaning in the words.  The inherent value that applies to you, and which you can make part of your own daily affirmations…  if that works for you.

Regardless of the relevance of the page I happened upon, I have usually forgotten the bulk of the frustration and can start to move forward again with hope and a return to optimism. Today, this poem was what I flipped to.  As I read, I found the value in each statement, and absurdity in the adherence to each as a life goal.  I mean, who can wear a cheerful expression all of the time? Nope-  not even happy-go-lucky me!

So today, I share this advice not as a goal for your every day, but perhaps a reminder that there are days when we are in the groove and days that we make a plan to try a little harder to be the optimist!