2.ChooseOptimism选择乐观Vocabularypessimismn.悲观,悲观主义principlen.法则,原则reversen.相反optimismn.乐观,乐观主义sufficientadj.充分的,足够的rationaladj.理性的,合理的perspectiven.透视图,远景positiveadj.肯定的,积极的negativismn.否定论,消极论,determinev.决定,确定prophecyn.预言,预言能力attendantn.服务员hesitationn.犹豫,踌躇queasyadj.不稳定的reactv.起反应,起作用observationn.观察affirmationn.断言,主张naiveadj.天真的Ifyouexpectsomethingtoturnoutbadly,itprobablywill.Pessimismisseldomdisappointed.Butthesameprinciplealsoworksinreverse.Ifyouexpectsomethinggoodtohappen,theyusuallydo！Thereseemstobeanaturalcause-and-effectrelationshipbetweenoptimismandsuccess.Optimismandpessimismarebothpowerfulforces,andeachofusmustchoosewhichwewanttoshapeouroutlookandexpectations.Thereisenoughgoodandbadineveryone’slife-amplesorrowandhappiness,sufficientjoyandpain-tofindarationalbasisofeitheroptimismorpessimism.Wecanchoosetolaughorcry,blessorcurse,it’sourdecision:Fromwhichperspectivedowewanttoviewlife?Willwelookupinhopeordownindespair.Ibelieveintheupwardlook.Ichoosetohighlightthepositiveandsliprightovernegativism.Iamanoptimistbychoiceasmuchasbynature,sure,Iknowthatsorrowsexist.Iaminmy70snow,andI’velivedthroughmorethanonecrisis.Butwhenallissaidanddone,Ifindthegoodinlifefaroverweighsthebad.Anoptimisticattitudeisnotaluxury,itisanecessity,thewayyoulookatlifewilldeterminehowyoufeel,howyouperform,howwellyouwillgetalongwithotherpeople.Conversely,negativethoughts,attitudeandexpectationsfeedonthemselves,theybecomeaself-fulfillingtheprophecy.Pessimismcreatesadismalplacewherenoonewantstolive.Yearsago,Idroveintoaservicestationtogetsomegas.Itwasabeautifulday,andIwasfeelinggreat.AsIwalkedintothestationtopayforthegas,theattendantsaidtome：“Howdoyoufeel?”Thatseemedlikeanoddquestion,butIfeltfineandtoldhimso.“Youdon’tlookwell,”Hereplied.Thiscompletelytookmecompletelybysurprise.Alittlelessconfidently,ItoldhimthatIhadneverfeltbetter.Withouthesitation,hecontinuedtotellmehowbadIlookedandmyskinappearedyellow.BythetimeIlefttheservicestation,Iwasfeelingalittleuneasy,aboutablockaway,Ipulledovertothesideofroadtolookatmyfaceinthemirror,HowdidIfeel?WasIjaundiced?Waseverythingallright?BythetimeIgothome,Iwasbeginningtofeelalittlequeasy,DidIhaveabadliver?HadIpickedupararedisease?ThenexttimeIwentintothatgasstation,feelingfineagain,Ifiguredoutwhathadhappened.Theplacehadrecentlybeenpaintedabrightyellow,andthelightreflectingoffthewallsmadeeveryoneinsidelookasthoughtheyhadhepatitis!IwonderedhowmanyotherfolkshadreactedthewayIdid.Ihadletoneshortconversationwithatotalstrangerchangemyattitudeforanentireday.HetoldmeIlookedsick,andbeforelong,Iwasactuallyfeelingsick.ThatsinglenegativeobservationhadaprofoundeffectonthewayIfeltandacted.Theonlythingmorepowerfulthannegativismisapositiveaffirmation,awordofoptimismandhope.OneofthethingsImostwanttothankfulisthefactthatIhadgrownupinanationwithagrandtraditionofoptimism.Whenawholecultureadoptsanupwardlook,incrediblethingscanbeaccomplished.Whentheworldisseemedasahopeful,positiveplace,peopleareempoweredtoattemptandtoachieve.Optimismdoesn’tneedtobenaive.Wecanbeaoptimistandstillrecognizethattheproblemsexistandsomeofthemarenotdealtwitheasily.Butwhatadifferenceoptimismmakesintheattitudeofproblemsolver!Optimismdivertsourattentionawayfromnegativismandchannelsitintopositive,constructivethinking.Infact...
