Pessimism to Optimism via Australia: How to Change Your Attitude to Life
A new Aussie phrase helps to do it … with or without religion.
You’re probably familiar with the above half-glass graphic-representation of the two contrasting approaches to ‘life’, often used by coaches, advisers, and gurus to help us to live a better life.
It can be tiresome if you are on the receiving end of such advice, especially if you are really ‘down-in-the-dumps’, and being told ‘how to live your life better’. It can be hurtful.
Ever heard this funny story?
Three men went into an English pub. One of the men was an Irishman; one was an Englishman; and the third was a Yankee. At the bar they ordered their favourite drinks: Guinness; Whiskey on the Rye; and Beer.
Sitting at a pub table, they chatted. The Englishman, regarding himself as some sort of philosopher, tried to lead the discussion towards the topic of optimism & pessimism.
Once the discussion was well underway the Englishman introduced the classic phrase: ‘half-full, half-empty’ and he also placed his now half-empty beer glass onto the edge of the table in order to use it as a visual backdrop to the discussion.
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Another man, sitting on a nearby table was listening to the discussion and to him, it looked as if the Englishman was being quite a Realist, and of the other two, one was clearly an Optimist, the other an obvious Pessimist.
After the three men had been arguing for quite a while, they suddenly noticed that the glass of beer was empty and a beer-stained note had been left under it. Here is that note:
The above pub-story serves as an introduction to this articles’ real story.
The title of this article is: “Pessimism to Optimism via Australia: How to Change Your Attitude to Life". You may notice that this article also has a sub-title. And that sub-title is the focus of my story today. The sub-title is:
“A NEW AUSSIE PHRASE CAN DO IT (with or without religion)”
How could a new Aussie phrase change your attitude to life?
A new Aussie phrase! What could that phrase be?
Before I reveal that phrase, let me reveal something of my own thinking around the topic of Pessimism & Optimism.
I do think that there is a way to turn things around, to change negative thoughts into positive attitudes without necessarily turning to religion; and that’s why I chose to say: ‘with or without religion’ in my sub-title.
At the end of this article, I will be providing an optional book reference that gives a refreshing religious interpretation of how to transform life with positive attitudes. But religion plays no part in this, my article today.
“Be Positive!” is another of those phrases that you really don’t want to hear if you are feeling ‘down-in-the-dumps’.
Is it possible to help someone without resorting to such unwanted advice?
I think it is. And the story that follows shows you how … from an Australian perspective.
‘Pessimism to Optimism via Australia…’
A NEW AUSSIE PHRASE CAN TRANSFORM LIVES and ATTITUDES
I’ve lived in Australia now for over 30 years and one of the commonest expressions you’ll hear every day when people are asked, “How are you today?” is the simple response: “I’m Good”.
This phrase is a common Australian response to the question: “How are you today?” (in Australian Lingo: “How ’ya goin?”). And people will regularly answer: “I’m Good, thanks.”
But when an Australian uses the phrase “How ’ya goin?” the response phrase of “I’m Good” has become so much the expected response that the hearer i.e. the one who asks “How ’ya goin?”, often doesn’t really listen to the answer given to the question, assuming that it will be “I’m Good”.
Here’s a personal experience that taught me this lesson.
One day I wasn’t feeling too great and a passing friend said “Hi Fred, how ’ya goin?”. I responded by honestly saying “Not so good”. The brain of my friend obviously expected the usual “I’m Good” response, and that’s what he must have thought he heard because he then said to me, “That’s Good”.
I rest my case!
Since then, thinking about this ‘built-in deafness’ to my “I’m not-so-Good” response to the “How are you?” question, I invented a new (extended) response to the question “How are you?” so that it no longer was just the expected “I’m Good”, but a little bit more:
I coined a new phrase hoping it would be heard, and that it might create a really positive response in the enquirer's mind.
My newly coined expanded response-phrase is:
“I’M GOOD, IN FACT, I’M GOODER THAN GOOD,”
I thought it might create a sense of “hey, this guy is really feeling good” and that perhaps it might also lift the spirit of the enquirer.
My initial intention was simply to help the listener actually hear rather than ‘assume’ my response, but when I used it I got two unexpected outcomes:
1. Using the phrase made me feel better! Wow!
and
2. The other person’s spirits seemed to be lifted too! Wow x2!!
I had created a classic WIN-WIN situation!
My newly coined phrase became an instant pick-me-up for two people at least.
What if each of us, now feeling fantastic, went on our way with a positive attitude? Could this newly generated positivity be self-replicating?
Had I started a shower of positivity-replication?
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I realize, of course, that when you’re not feeling blessed, it isn’t easy to change; it isn’t easy to turn around negative thoughts, is it?
So come with me on a brief journey of discovery. On a tale that offers hope and belief in ‘Better Things to Come’.
First a question for you: What’s your life like?
Do you consider yourself BLESSED or do you have a NEGATIVE ATTITUDE?
The wrong attitude can be the first step to becoming a loser.
Becoming a loser is easy, just have the wrong attitude to life. Adopt a negative attitude and your loser-status is guaranteed.
NEGATIVITY CAN DESTROY POTENTIAL BLESSINGS
Can we turnaround negativity and think about good things; wonderful outcomes? If only! If only saying: “I’m Good, in fact, I’m Gooder than Good” could really change perspectives.
Let’s be honest. It isn’t easy to turn around negative thoughts.
What if you have a problem; a real problem with your finances; or your work, or a real problem with your health, or with a relationship?
What if you are thinking: “Things are so bad; I just can’t turn it around?”
To turn things around can sometimes seem impossible and we give up bothering; give up trying to seek a turnaround, sometimes overwhelmed by our problems. We either switch off and just try to ‘forget’ (but we can’t really), or we take a pessimistic view that nothing will ever change and as a result, we never take up any opportunity to make that change.
We remain pessimistic.
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In our lives, if we have what feels like insurmountable problems; if we feel we are in a ‘no-get-out situation’, we need to seek a trigger-point to lift us from pessimism to hope.
We need the determination to seek and find that trigger-point that will lift us from total pessimism to optimism and hope.
To believe that things will get better; that we will be blessed
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What can we learn from all of this? From the negativity of feeling low; from the negativity, that destroys our own potential blessings?
How are we doing with our lives?
Can we see blessings in our lives? Hope for better things to come, and say: “Good News is Coming”
How are you doing with your life? Are you blessing it or are you cursing it?
When negative thoughts come, what image do you project to your friends and your loved ones? Are you projecting negativity? Why not try to turn negative thoughts around by saying: “I’m Good, in fact, I’m Gooder than Good”
Maybe say it to yourself first; then try it on others.
Say this whenever you hear that internal voice of negativity. Do this and you’ll change your whole image as seen by others. Begin to encourage yourself and others will begin to encourage you.
There may not be any sudden or magical solution (though it may feel magical when it happens). Your life will be changed.
Your life can be changed … will be changed.
One thing’s for sure: If you give up, you’ll never get there. If you only listen to the internal voice of negativity, you’ll only be “Living, just living”. Negativity leads to failure!
Can we challenge the impossible; turn things around; put positivity at the forefront of our thinking and say:
“I’m Good, in fact, I’m Gooder than Good,”
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In all that you think about, give positive thinking priority so that it becomes the only focal points that matter in your life because it is. You will succeed in not only denouncing negativity, but your eyes will be opened to opportunities you never saw before.
Put positivity at the forefront of your thinking. Focus on your blessings.
Blessings of the past; blessings of today; and your future blessings.
They are guaranteed!
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An optional reading reference: A refreshingly inspiring book: “The Be-Happy Attitudes” by Robert Schuller is the book I mentioned earlier. Worth reading, even if you’re not religious. Search-Find-Read: The Be-Happy Attitudes (8 positive attitudes that can transform a life)
This story (Pessimism to Optimism) is one of a trilogy of related stories that Fred has written. The other two (with title links) are: Can you say: “I am Blessed, and better things are on the way? Three words can transform your life
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“Pessimism to Optimism was written by Fred: writer on Medium * * * * * © Fred Ogden 2021 * * * * *
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