Optimism, Pessimism, Green Eggs and Ham

Did you know there are some genetic factors that influence your optimism?  Most personality traits are determined about 50 percent by your genes and family origin.   So you may have been born optimistic.  Or pessimistic. 

When you’re a child you tend to be more optimistic.  As people get older, they start to buy into the negative bullshit around them and progressively become more pessimistic.  While women are generally more optimistic than men, they are also more pessimistic.  How can that be?  Because they have a greater emotional range.  So while they are more optimistic, they are also more susceptible to depression.

So what if you are born more disposed to be pessimistic?

You can change. Don’t use your DNA as an excuse, unless you're determined to remain a victim.  All victim-hood will do for you is to diminish what you can achieve in your life.

By controlling your mind – the thoughts you give precedence to – you actually change your mindset and results.

And how do you do this?

• Change the environment around you.
• Change people that you hang out with.
• Stop by this blog every day.
• Quit drinking.
• Quit smoking.
• Quit drugging.
• Dress up.
• Wash your car, clean your house and get organized.
• Be extra nice to the next ten strangers you meet.
• Unfollow somebody obnoxious on Facebook.
• Unplug your TV for a month. (Repeat as necessary.)
• Subscribe to Prosperity TV.
• Start every day by reading one page of As a Man Thinketh.
• End every day by reading one page of As a Man Thinketh.
• Volunteer at a homeless shelter, or pediatric hospital.
• Read a Dr. Seuss book.
• Listen to the Power Prosperity Podcast.
• Get some vigorous exercise every day.
• Hug your dog or cat.
• Hug someone else's dog or cat.

That’s a few off the top of my head.  What would you add?

-RG