The Importance of Optimism

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You must decide if you are a glass half-full or glass half empty type of person. As Abraham Lincoln stated, “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” But how does someone approach even the toughest situations with a glass half full attitude and are there truly benefits to being happy?

Proven by researchers in Great Britain by a study that was published in the Journal of Social Psychology, the researchers provided proof that people who perform daily acts of kindness feel more personal satisfaction and happiness (Dixon). These beautiful acts of kindness can be as simple as holding the door open for someone who is enter a building before you or paying for a stranger’s meal or bag of groceries. Giving people genuine compliments or a sincere smile is a reflection of your mood. All of these actions are “half full” behaviors, which in turn make you feel better about yourself. The beauty in these acts of kindness is that they become habits, which easily transforms your “half empty” behaviors into something that is constructive, effortless and natural.

Through these effortless and natural acts of kindness becoming a habitual it will become easier to overcome the negatives in the world, which are published every day through newspapers and the news on TV. Media primarily focusing on all of the bad in the world - crime, the poor economy and war, but what about all the positives that happen day to day on a national level? On January 12, 2012 Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post launched “Huff Post Good News.” In Good News, readers absorb uplifting articles that focus on inspiring stories that enrich lives and lead to better attitudes. Good News is a positive reminder to people that there is more going ...

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...u can afford to pay a barista to make your morning pick-me-up.

Half Full is starting small, but with each person that buys into it and celebrates finding the good in bad situations the world will become a better place. Half Full could be the winner of all multi-level marketing techniques. Invest in Half Full and not only will you be a better you, but the world will be a better place too.

Works Cited

Dixon, Alex. "Kindness Makes You Happy… and Happiness Makes You Kind." Greater Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life. University of California, Berkeley, 6 Sept. 2011. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.

Smith, Melinda, and Jeanne Segal. "Laughter Is the Best Medicine." Help Guide. N.p., May 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.

Yates, Diana. "Study: Happiness Improves Health and Lengthens Life." News Bureau | University of Illinois. Inside Illinois, 1 Mar. 2011. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.

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