The Optimism Advantage - Breathing Space Blog

Optimistic attitudes and actions support simple living! If you haven't added The Optimism Advantage to your simple living bookshelf of keepers, let me suggest that you buy it today. Dr. Terry Paulson's classic book, The Optimism Advantage: 50 Simple Truths to Transform Your Attitudes and Actions into Results," isn't just about managing your attitudes. It's about shaping your world in a way that promotes optimism, opportunity and simple living.

Taking a stand for simpler living, Dr. Paulson writes, "Far too many people spend years gathering more things to fit into increasingly bigger houses only to spend their later years getting rid of things and craving simplicity and satisfying relationships. Why wait? Claim a little more simplicity now; avoid the wasted cost and stressful aggravation involved in competing for who can own the most toys and the biggest mansion."

The Optimism Advantage deals with putting commitments into action. Optimists live "action imperative" and have a bias towards action. Instead of overanalyzing what to do, optimists get busy doing. He shared a housewife who was overwhelmed by the clutter and her commitment to bring sanity to her living space. She picked a room, set her kitchen timer for 5 minutes, and got started bringing order to her life. After the bell went off, she continued for another ten minutes and was proud of going beyond what she had planned. She was pleased with her results and kept increasing her time commitment. She took back her world one room at a time.

Optimism isn't motivational hype; it comes from a track record of overcoming adversity and challenges one day, one choice at a time. The more challenges you overcome, the more confidence you have that you can do more.