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follow Terry onAnytime I get into a time frame where not-so-good things of various types are happening with greater frequency (like basement floods, for example), I recall the old “Murphy’s Law” – which holds that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Does this point of view have any relationship to “Half-Fullism”, or the ability to look at life with “realistic optimism”? Or is it more akin to buying into a self-fulfilling prophesy?
Of course I look at it from the latter perspective, but when bad stuff is happening it’s hard to believe sometimes that the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t an oncoming train. These are the times where a literal “tug-of-war” can take place in my brain.
Imagine a little man on each of my shoulders (just like you see in the movies), one appropriately named “Mopey Murphy”, and the other named “Harry Half-Full”. Here’s a typical exchange:
Mopey: “Terry, I’m sure another thing is just about to go askew, so why don’t you just accept that you have no control over it – it’s a law, remember?” Go ahead, get bummed out – it’s therapeutic!”
Harry: “Forget that man, can’t you see? You do have control over this – that law is an Urban Myth. Pick yourself up and get this thing back on the rails! Smile dude, it’s going to get better.”
Mopey: “Urban Myth? Harry, you’ve been reading too many blogs. A rock keeps rolling downhill my friend. When it rains, it pours. Worse comes to worst. You get the idea?
Harry: “Not really, Mr. Cliché. Words don’t make the man, action does – and my boy is made for action – look at the name of his blog! He’s a rambling man! His glass is half-full!”
Mopey: “But what’s in the glass right now – sludge, and it weighs a ton. He’s going down! The Law will prevail – and by the way, it’s been around much longer than that crazy blogosphere”
Terry: “Hey guys, this is about me, remember? You’re supposed to be giving me advice, not trading quips”
Harry: “Sorry Terry – so what do you say Mr. Starbucker? Think positive and toss that Law into the muck!”
Mopey: “Or join me in it!”
So what usually happens when that moment of truth comes? Nine times out of ten I tell Mopey to push his Law on somebody else, and Harry and I actively look for good fortune to inevitably return. On that rare occasion Mopey gets the upper hand, Harry and I still try to fight him. I can’t help it.
One day, I’d love to banish Mopey forever, but now you know why I call it “realistic” optimism. And he does have a wicked sense of humor I can appreciate – just a little. 
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, Terry, can I relate to this. You captured the conflicting internal voices quite well. I was intrigued at your “realistic optimism.” I wrote a paper in college and called myself the same thing – a realistic optimist.
By the way, I just tagged you too – http://movingspirit.typepad.com/spirit_in_gear/2006/12/oh_boy_im_it_in.html
Hey Deb, thanks for stopping by. I’d love to read that paper you wrote, since we seem to think alike! Also thanks for the tag – I’ll post my list on Saturday. All the best.
Yep, As Peter Drucker noted, the desert is filled with the bleached bones of people who kept on trying. One has to be able to weigh those inner voices in a healthy balance!
Barring nuclear holocaust, weather catastrophe or crippling illness – we should be able to apply that “half full” perspective on a regular basis. (That said, I have my moments when I want to crawl under the bed.)
My latest personal example: Being at the San Francisco airport at (groan) 5:30 a.m. I could have chosen to be way bent out of shape over the early hour and the airport ambience (or lack thereof). Instead, I chose to see this as an opportunity to watch the sun rise over the hills and contemplate what that sun must have “seen” in years gone by as the area developed.
Hi Mary – love that example of “Half-fullism” at the airport. Harry would be proud of you! Mopey is especially effective at airports
Thanks for stopping by, and all the best.