Fiddle-dee-dee! The Art of Scarlett OHara Optimism
http://www.onsimplicity.net/2008/09/fiddle-dee-dee-the-art-of-scarlett-ohara-optimism/
Posted on September 08th, 2008 in Happiness, Personal Development
She may be a spoiled, somewhat delusional, sheltered Southern belle, but youve got to give it to Scarlett OHara: the gals a first-class optimist. This is a character who doesnt just turn lemons in to lemonade, she turns curtains into couture. And while her aim may not always be pure, she never lets a setback (or even a war) stop her from dreaming and reaching her goals.
If youre a dreamer of any kind, then optimism isnt just a state of mind, its a weapon in your arsenal. Without a healthy amount of optimism, the first setback you come across can cause you to give up. So if youd like to tap into some of that tomorrow is another day optimism, consider the following ways to embrace your inner believer:
1. Ignore convention. The most optimistic act you can commit is one that flies in the face every bit of conventional wisdom youve heard. Scarlett didnt let anyone tell her she couldnt run a plantation, a business, or well, anything. If you listen to the crowd on every issue, youll never have an extraordinary moment. Have the courage to believe that you can challenge the status quo and come out ahead, and watch doors you never even saw before suddenly fly open.
2. Change your mind. The ultimate form of optimism is knowing that theres a world of possibilities yet to be discovered. In Scarlett OHaras terms, just because you told someone you hated him and hoped you never saw him again, that doesnt mean hes not the love of your life. Hopefully, your changes of mind and heart are less dramatic, but above all, reserve your right to change your mind. Changing your mind is not giving up; its evolving. Its recognizing that there may be more different, better options for you. Far from being a pessimistic act of waving the white flag, changing your mind can be the ultimate act of Scarlett-style optimism.
3. Earn the respect of others. Yes, she was manipulative, but in the end Scarlett got what she wanted because she had earned the respect of the people she needed. Whether you earn that respect through being consistent, being great at what you do, or simply because youre unimaginably ballsy (the Scarlett method), its vital. Optimism can get you pretty damn far, farther than you might imagine, but you will need the help of others if you have big goals. Take the time today to start earning the respect of your peers and industry, and youll be able to get others to believe in your optimistic vision.
4. Never be afraid to dance. So what if youre in mourning for the husband you never loved and only married to make your sisters husband jealous? If you want to dance, then by all means dance. Theres never (well, rarely ) a bad time to embrace the joy in life and follow your passion. When you can view life as full of possibility instead of filled with limitations, guess what? Youre an optimist. Take a cue from Scarlett and dance, laugh, and love, even when the world is quite certain you should be crying.
5. Embrace your special talents. If youre Scarlett, this means pinching your cheeks for color and batting your eyes to get what you want. If youve got good people skills, then it means taking the time to engage as many folks as you can in conversation. Whatever your best talents are, use them as often as possible. Its always good to stretch yourself, but theres no reason not to use your natural talents to your advantage. What does this have to do with optimism? By identifying and tapping into your strong points, you can find more opportunities to shine and be confident in yourself as well. If you feel that you can use your talents to your advantage in any situation, youre a bonafide optimist.
What do you feel are the best ways to be optimistic? Are there limits to how far optimism can take you? Waltz your way into the comments, and let me hear what you have to say.
2. Change your mind. <<<
That one I have mastered.
LOL, I still one hat pin, but not a valuable one.