Most of us have heard of seeing the world’s glass as half-full or half-empty. The first is perceived as optimism and the latter is considered pessimistic. But, is it that simple? Like most things in life, probably not. There are more nuances to how we perceive life and where we put our attention is a big part of it.
Let’s assume you are coming up on a time when your work isn’t as busy. The business owner with a glass half-empty outlook would likely panic. They would worry about paying bills or losses continuing for a long time. On the other hand, a half-full mentality would look at this situation very differently. They would focus on all the great things that could come out of this change. Less time with clients creates the opportunity to develop new products or to enjoy some well earned time off.
Consultant Craig Freshley has a new spin on the whole concept. He says, “If your glass is half empty, get a smaller glass.” He argues that if we’re seeing the world as “half-empty,” then we may just be comparing ourselves to too many things—in other words, our glass is too big. Social media is a culprit of this. Our glasses are very big when we can compare our lives to so many online who seemingly have fantastic life experiences. (It is important to remember that much of social media is a positive “highlight reel.”)
So, what can you do if you see the world a certain way and want to change it? First, understand you may be fighting a bit against nature. For example, you may be more naturally inclined to think one way or the other. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t change it. Fortunately, much of the way we see the world is within our power to control.
Changing your view may mean looking at the world in a different way than what you’re used to. Do you spend a lot of time dreaming of the perfect home or vacation or family but then feel disappointed or depressed when you look at what you have? If so, you may need to look for comparisons that work better for you. In other words, make your glass smaller by narrowing your focus to find what’s good about what you have. When you tune in to what really matters, you can see where the positives are working in your life.
There are significant benefits to learning how to focus in ways that feel better to you. Statistically, you are bound to have improved health, more motivation, better performance, and more business success. As a coach, I can help you change this perspective. Let’s talk about how you see the world and see what we can do to improve your outlook.
Charlise Latour a business coach and owner of Accelerate Your Success. She works with each client to determine what their goals are and create a plan so they can achieve them. She is actively involved in Dancing & Singing With The King which raises money to promote dance education including working with local schools to offer dance classes during the school day. This is a natural fit as she is an avid ballroom dancer.
