Optimism:
The Key to Living Longer and Happier
"Success is measured by your ability to maintain enthusiasm between failures."- Sir Winston Churchill
Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, and Ronald Reagan are just a few names that come to mind in a discussion about optimism and success.
People who are successful in life measure high on assessments of optimistic attitudes. It would be easy to presume they are optimistic because they are successful, but there is enough research to show that the optimism comes first.
Traditional wisdom puts forth the idea that to be successful, you must have two things:
1. Talent (Spiritual Gift), aptitude or skill
2. Motivation/Inspiration
More recent research shows that a third element contributes strongly to success:
3. Optimism, particularly in the face of adversity
High scores for optimism are predictive of excellence in everything from sports to health, elections and sales, ministry and marriage. When Metropolitan Life used an assessment of optimistic attitude to select and hire salespeople, those scoring highest on the optimism scale outsold others in their first year by 27 percent.
Optimists are more resistant to infectious illness and are better at fending off chronic diseases of middle age. In a 1980 study of 96 men who had their first heart attack, 15 of the 16 most pessimistic men died of a second heart attack within eight years, but only five of the 16 most optimistic men died.
Dr. Martin Seligman, author of Learned Optimism, has shown that optimists not only do better educationally and in their careers, they also enjoy superior health and longevity.
This truth is also found in the Scriptures. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
A Dynamic Optimist vs a Passive One
"Don't ever become a pessimist; a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun - and neither can stop the march of events." - Robert A. Heinlein
On the surface, optimism may appear to be a simple case of "don't worry, be happy." However, an effective assessment will show that there are degrees of optimism. Not all kinds will move us forward in life.
Max More, Ph.D., has proposed two distinct kinds of optimists: those who are "dynamic" and those who are "passive." Dynamic optimists have an active, empowering attitude, which creates conditions for success by focusing and acting on possibilities and opportunities. Passive optimists simply tell themselves that all will work out just fine. They expect other people and organizations will solve the problems.
Dr. More proposes that effective optimism requires study, understanding and practice. A passive optimist, while more effective than a pessimist, sees no need to take action. They think positively but don't know how to turn thoughts into actions. Those who are really dynamic in their optimism turn their thoughts into behaviors. They apply optimism in diverse ways to attain goals in career, finances, spirituality, health and leadership.
Optimism has its roots in faith. By faith we can look to the future knowing that a benevolent God is at the controls. Knowing that He who commands our lives will also deliver the victory helps us look to the future with great confidence. As the prophet Elisha said, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." 2 Kings 6:16. "Many other verses are given to us to convert us from pessimists to optimists." John 16:33/1 John 2:13/Romans 8:35-39.
Fear, doubt, pessimism, and cynicism are all the result of a lack of faith. Those who do not strive to obey Philippians 4:8 have only one alternative: to become negative and bitter. "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" Hebrews 12:15.
Optimism Can Be Learned
Pessimists, passive optimists and dynamic optimists all selectively focus their attention. Dynamic optimists interpret their experiences differently than other people. They also influence outcomes differently by translating effective thoughts into specific kinds of actions.
The differing ways in which optimists and pessimists focus their attention lead to noticing different things, experiencing different motivations, and taking different actions. The pessimist focuses on problems, pains, and pitfalls. The passive optimist sees only what is encouraging and enjoyable, but blinds him- or herself to potential obstacles. This leads to missed opportunities or limited success.
The dynamic optimist dwells on the constructive and enjoyable while de-emphasizing pain, difficulty and frustration. Such a person can look at a frustrating event, fully accept its reality, and then choose to interpret the event in a way that leads to action, growth and mastery. They recognize dangers but have a wider vision open to solutions, possibilities and assisting forces.
When You Hit that Wall
"For myself I am an optimist - It does not seem to be much use being anything else." Anonymous
Think about the times during the day at work that you are blocked and feel discouraged. What do you do when you hit that wall?
The optimistic individual perseveres. In the face of routine setbacks he or she persists. He or she keeps on going, particularly at the crucial juncture when the competition is also hitting the wall and starting to wilt. In the face of major failure, the optimist persists. "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." Proverbs 24:16
Optimism helps every time your work gets hard. It can make the difference between getting the job done well or poorly- or not at all. Even in non-competitive tasks, such as paper work or writing, an optimistic attitude can make the difference.
Procrastination is the result of not having an optimistic mindset to start and finish a task. But at the root of putting things off is the internal dialog when facing an unpleasant, routine or boring task. A pessimist thinks all sorts of negative thoughts when facing such tasks. The optimist thinks positive thoughts that actually encourage and energize.
Failure often does not stem from laziness, or from lack of talent or lack of imagination. It's often simply ignorance of some very important tools not commonly taught in schools or in workshops.
How to become an Optimist
Take daily opportunities to work on developing the skills of optimism. The Bible says that the rain falleth on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). The optimist confronts the same trials and tribulations as does the pessimist. Yet, the optimist, recognizing that the problems are very real, faces the trials with courage because he sees opportunity in the midst of the challenge. The Apostle Paul expressed this same thought. "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." 1 Corinthians 16:9
Here are four important tools for learning to cultivate an optimistic attitude:
- Become aware: look at how you selectively focus on events.
- Examine your internal dialogue, then change what you tell yourself.
- See negative events as opportunities rather than problems.
- Find the Bible viewpoint for each problem and adopt it as your own. James 1:2
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." ?Sir Winston Churchill
Fall In or Fall Apart
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
James 1:22
Last year while on vacation in a southern city, my wife and I visited a beautiful church located on the edge of town near our hotel. As we drove up we were excited to see a beautiful complex with several classroom buildings, a nice fellowship hall, and an even more impressive sanctuary. The grounds were expansive, well maintained, and reminded me of the charm of the old south.
We arrived early for Sunday school and shook hands with an elderly man who was standing near the front doors. We stood and talked for a few minutes as the man, who turned out to be a deacon, explained how the church had fallen upon bad times and was in financial trouble. He went on to tell us how their recently departed pastor had come in and tried to shake things up. I knew we were in real trouble when he let me know that he had been a deacon for over thirty years and seen pastors come and go and he'd still be there when the next pastor left. It was obvious that this church had changed their focus from helping those outside the church to protecting the status quo of those in the church.
As my wife and I entered the sanctuary we were struck by two things: the beautiful facilities, and the empty seats. The sanctuary would easily seat three hundred people, but counting my wife and myself, there were barely a dozen people in attendance. The teacher stood behind the pulpit and greeted the sparse, mostly elderly group of members. As he began his lesson I began to ponder how a church that had once prospered and grown to need such large buildings could end up in such a terrible state.
It didn't take me long to see all the things they did right. The messages in both Sunday school and the morning service were well delivered and doctrinally sound. By reading the bulletin I could see that they had all the activities one would normally associate with a sound church. Yet, something was definitely lacking.
The people were neither worldly nor liberal. They believed the right things, conducted the traditional services, were faithful in their Christianity, and sincerely wanted to keep the church doors open. After listening to the church members talk among themselves and asking a few pointed questions, the root cause of their sad condition became blatantly obvious. Somewhere in their past, they had stopped trying to grow and become content with not dying. By changing from offense to defense they sealed their doom.
The thing that killed this church is the thing that is killing the vast majority of churches today. Too many are trying to keep from going out of business and have stopped trying to shake up their town for Christ. People are proudly "holding the fort" and "hanging on until Jesus comes" instead of seizing the day and zealously fighting the good fight by going after the lost and being the salt of the earth.
God is a man of war (Exodus 15:3) and Christians are admonished to be soldiers for Christ (2 Timothy 2:3&4). As good soldiers we are to be courageous and aggressive in performing our duties. We are to be on the attack and are told to conquer and occupy the enemy's strongholds (Luke 19:13). A good army does not win by trying not to lose. They do not confuse training and learning how to fight with the real thing. An army is derelict in their duties if all they do is stay in the garrison and study strategy and tactics.
By likening the church to a mighty army and Christians to soldiers, Christ is expressing the dominant spirit the church should have. He organized the church to take the Gospel to the world. The Great Commission is our purpose for existing. Therefore, when we change our focus from reaching the world for Christ to anything else, we are outside of the will of God.
This truth has numerous practical applications. Church leaders should focus the congregation on winning the lost to Christ. Everything else flows from this primary duty. We live clean, separated lives so that we can be vessels fit for use by a holy God. We build buildings to facilitate training disciples and worshipping God. Nothing glorifies God more than winning lost souls to Christ. "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:29. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples". John 15:8.
We organize our church services and start ministries with this one goal in mind. Our preaching, teaching, prayers, testimonies, special events and finances are all pointed at accomplishing that which we have been left here to do. We study the Bible so that we can please the God who wrote the Bible. We learn to be more like Him so that we can do what He would do if He were us (2 Corinthians 5:20).
This being true, it is easy to see why the Spirit of God is not felt when the focus of a local congregation turns from the purpose for which it was created. When this happens, the music, prayers, preaching, teaching, buildings and money become the focus of our Christianity. We were never intended to worship these tools. These tools are pleasing to God only when they are used to achieve His Great Commission.
As a country has no pleasure in an army that will not fight, God has no pleasure in a church that will not make fighting for the souls of men its primary purpose. Christians need to fall into ranks and join the fight they were created to fight. Any church that does not generate new converts will die spiritually very quickly and die physically over time.
New life begets new life. Keep aggressive evangelization the main thing and build a culture of action. God intends for the church to have a predisposition for active soul-winning. We are not intended to keep the Gospel to ourselves and let the rest of the world go to Hell. If a church does not routinely assemble and march into battle it will die. Christians need to reenlist in God's army. We either fall in and join the battle or we fall apart.
Jeff Wade, DBS
BibleLeader.com
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