This is the second book I read by Seligman - the pioneer of positive psychology.
Seligman starts off the book with his father's devastation in his death bed. I was instantly hooked. As you imagine, he is not in this topic for a shallow make-feel-good psychology. Seligma actually wanted to crack this topic of how people perceive life events differently.
The book has multiple questions of about 30 or so to check your optimism level. Those alone would make the book worth it. I learned the language I use onto myself leads low on optimism score often deflating my achievement. That self-awareness is good to know yourself.
Then he mentions that optimism and truth are antagonistic to one another. "Truth hurts". It cant be clearer coming out of his mouth. Then he goes on to explain the clear guideline of when to use optimism and when not to will add onto my mindset toolbox for life.
Let me just lay out those situations here:
- If you are in an achievement situation, use optimism. That’s for getting a promotion, selling a product, writing a difficult report, winning a game.
- If you are concerned about how you will feel, use optimism. That’s fighting off depression, keeping up your morale.
- If the situation is apt to be protracted and your physical health is an issue, use optimism.
If you want to lead, if you want to inspire others, if you want people to vote for you, use optimism.
- If your goal is to plan for a risky and uncertain future, do not use optimism.
- If your goal is to counsel others whose future is dim, do not use optimism initially.
- If you want to appear sympathetic to the troubles of others, do not begin with optimism, although using it later, once confidence and empathy are established, may help.
- If the cost of failure is high, optimism is the wrong strategy.