I continue to read the very interesting book “Exuberance” by Kay Redfield Jamison (not quite done yet, but close). There was one thing in it that has really got me thinking lately – it’s the notion that a natural state of exuberance, and thus positivity and optimism, is really genetic. Meaning, you cannot “create” an optimist. The book acknowledges that folks who are not born with exuberance can certainly have moments where such a feeling exists, but by and large it makes the case (supported by several noted scientists) that a consistent lifetime of enthusiasm and positivity is inbred.
I’m not sure I “buy” this, but what makes me even more curious is what all of YOU think – my fellow friends in the blogosphere that espouse optimism and positivity on a regular basis in their daily posts. Are optimists born, and not made?
Let me know, either as a comment here, or as a blog post of your own (which I will gladly link to).
Let’s have a conversation! I’ll also chime in more once I finish the book. Thanks.
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After you read “Exuberance,” you might like to follow up with “Learned Optimism” by Martin Seligman. Seligman concurs that optimists are born, but he contends that we can practice optimistic behaviors and increase our optimism.
Seligman is best known for his views on positive psychology. You can take some fun and enlightening self-assessments on his Authentic Happiness web site:
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu
I naturally fall into the “half empty” portion of the bell curve, but I work really, really hard to reverse that figure and ground!
Both. I have met many that “seem” naturally upbeat, but I also know some that have learned new habits and moved to the positive side. Otherwise, those of us working to change peoples behaviors are in a futile struggle. Hmmm …
I tend towards environmentalism, that is not so much as what is in your genes but as what is in your life arena. Hence, if your parents were optimistic then you would tend to be.
Overall optimism is self reinforcing. If you look for the positive, you will find the positive and then because you found the positive, find more positive.
An other way to say this is that optimist need to help the pessimists get out of the rut they are in, but ultimately getting out of the rut and staying out is up to the individual. A matter of choice.
What a great question!
Nature/Nurture at its core. My personal experience is that people are born with certain traits and that we learn to manage them toward desired results.
Does natural tendancy change? I don’t think so. BUT, are there strategies and tactics we can employ to counter act our natural tendancies? Absolutely!
Personally, I find that my personality is very consistant now with what it was as a teenager and a pre-teen (my mom confirms this). I’ve just matured (mostly!) and learned when I can let myself go and when to manage my reactions my carefully. I still mess up – just not as much.
Really great thought provoker!!!
I just posted about this topic on Monday. The first part of my post is about lawyers but the second part is about increasing optimism:
http://westallen.typepad.com/idealawg/2007/01/halfempty_glass.html
I recommend The Mind and the Brain mentioned in the Chicago Sun-Times article. I just finished my second reading of it. The book is excellent.
I think we may be born with a natural tendency. However, our childhood experiences have a big influence on the way we see and respond to the world.
I agree with Steve that optimism and pessimism are self-reinforcing. Therefore, if a person falls into a pessimistic view of life it will take effort to break this cycle. However, I know that we do have control over our thoughts and, therefore, we can learn to have an optimistic view of life.
Of course if I didn’t believe this I would need to close up my business.