Do You Want to Build Your Emotional Strength?
- Date: 2007-04-26 - Word Count: 608
Share This!
Frequently, I hear people say this or that isn't "fair." Unfortunately, life is not always fair. It can be hard to know who and what to trust. We live in an imperfect world. If there is a need of proof of living in an imperfect world, you can look at corporate and institutional scandals as well as fabricated stories by politicians, editors and journalists.
According to the University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center, 53 percent of Americans believed most people could be trusted in 1964. Pew Research compiled an index of public trust released in early 2007. Individuals responded to the question, "Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted, or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?"
• 45% believed most people are trustworthy.
• 35% of all adults fell into the "high social trust" category.
• 38% fell into the "low trust" category.
• 27% were in the middle range.
How do you answer the question, "Can most people be trusted?" If your answer is "no", does it affect your general attitude about life? The latest research coming out of Positive Psychology indicates pessimism is harmful to your health:
• Intellectually
• Emotionally and
• Physically.
During times like this, one thing you can do is build your emotional strength. On a daily basis, you make an important choice to be pessimistic or optimistic about the world you live in, who you are, and what you can accomplish.
When you are pessimistic, you are less alert intellectually. It takes longer to come up with answers to problems. When you have a negative view about people, events and yourself, you are more likely to be irritable and to hold on to anger. This negatively affects your relationships. In addition, your immune system is weakened which makes you more vulnerable to illness.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to build your emotional strength and immune system. Even when you cannot control a situation or influence those who do, you can choose to manage yourself.
You have a choice about how to live in an imperfect world. It is possible to build your emotional strength by following these tips:
• Identify your top three to five values. These are things that are important to you, i.e. honesty, humor, independence, and creativity. Choose to find ways to include them in your life daily. Live your values.
• Choose to make a plan to achieve something that is important to you each day. Even if you only work on it for 15 minutes, it is valuable in building your self-esteem.
• Choose to accept what cannot be changed in your life.
• Choose to seek out what is good in yourself, in others, in things, and in situations as opposed to what is negative.
• Choose to focus on things you are grateful for and appreciate. By doing this, you can change your thought patterns from hopeless to hopeful.
• Choose to believe you are not a victim if bad things have happened to you. Victims stay stuck.
• Choose to see yourself as a problem solver by seeking solutions.
• Choose to be consistent in what you say and do. This is critical in building trust with others.
• Choose to seek out positive alternatives to reduce stress in your life. Having fun is recharging even if it is for a short time.
Life is rarely the way it is suppose to be. Instead, life is the way it is. The way you choose to cope with what cannot be changed makes the difference. It is possible to build your emotional strength and live an engaging and meaningful life. Look for ways to start your day well, and choose to be optimistic about its outcome.
According to the University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center, 53 percent of Americans believed most people could be trusted in 1964. Pew Research compiled an index of public trust released in early 2007. Individuals responded to the question, "Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted, or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?"
• 45% believed most people are trustworthy.
• 35% of all adults fell into the "high social trust" category.
• 38% fell into the "low trust" category.
• 27% were in the middle range.
How do you answer the question, "Can most people be trusted?" If your answer is "no", does it affect your general attitude about life? The latest research coming out of Positive Psychology indicates pessimism is harmful to your health:
• Intellectually
• Emotionally and
• Physically.
During times like this, one thing you can do is build your emotional strength. On a daily basis, you make an important choice to be pessimistic or optimistic about the world you live in, who you are, and what you can accomplish.
When you are pessimistic, you are less alert intellectually. It takes longer to come up with answers to problems. When you have a negative view about people, events and yourself, you are more likely to be irritable and to hold on to anger. This negatively affects your relationships. In addition, your immune system is weakened which makes you more vulnerable to illness.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to build your emotional strength and immune system. Even when you cannot control a situation or influence those who do, you can choose to manage yourself.
You have a choice about how to live in an imperfect world. It is possible to build your emotional strength by following these tips:
• Identify your top three to five values. These are things that are important to you, i.e. honesty, humor, independence, and creativity. Choose to find ways to include them in your life daily. Live your values.
• Choose to make a plan to achieve something that is important to you each day. Even if you only work on it for 15 minutes, it is valuable in building your self-esteem.
• Choose to accept what cannot be changed in your life.
• Choose to seek out what is good in yourself, in others, in things, and in situations as opposed to what is negative.
• Choose to focus on things you are grateful for and appreciate. By doing this, you can change your thought patterns from hopeless to hopeful.
• Choose to believe you are not a victim if bad things have happened to you. Victims stay stuck.
• Choose to see yourself as a problem solver by seeking solutions.
• Choose to be consistent in what you say and do. This is critical in building trust with others.
• Choose to seek out positive alternatives to reduce stress in your life. Having fun is recharging even if it is for a short time.
Life is rarely the way it is suppose to be. Instead, life is the way it is. The way you choose to cope with what cannot be changed makes the difference. It is possible to build your emotional strength and live an engaging and meaningful life. Look for ways to start your day well, and choose to be optimistic about its outcome.
Related Tags: trust, positive psychology, emotional strength, optimisitic, pessimistic, dealing with adversity
Maurine Patten, Ed.D., CMC, Maximize Your Possibilitieshttp://www.Pattencoaching.comMore free information, assessment and ezine subscription at http://www.PattenCoaching.comMailto:mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The Resurgence of Fred Perry Clothing
Summer might long be over and Wimbledon may be a distant memory, however the fashion is a year round - Uncovering Men's Tank Tops
I don't know a thing about you, but I'll bet that you have worn a tank top. Tank tops have also been - Make Use of Silk Scarves to Take Good Care of Your Skin
In the event you are new about silk scarves, you could never read about this particular feature of s - Just For Men Scarves - the Preference For Guys in the Vogue Domain
If you are not certain what style of present you could provide for men, maybe you can consider men s - Think Black Friday Shopping is Beyond Your Budget?
Moms who are juggling the bills and still trying to provide the perfect holiday gift to loved ones a - How to Make Conscious Shopping Choices
Many people have heard the phrase "voting with your dollars" and they understand that it means your - Silk Scarves - Unique Present Approach in Xmas Seasons
The most prevalent silk add-on is scarves, and many focus is presented on inspired designing on thes - Benefits of an Aloe Vera Shampoo
A lot of people are not aware of the specific benefits that using an aloe vera shampoo can do to the - How Effective is the Power of Your Subconscious Mind?
Most people are bombarded with this thought whenever they feel weak and wish to affect certain chang - Silk Scarf - the Record For Human Being in the Style History
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries the worldwide recognition of silk scarves developed dramatica
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Surf and Turf: the Race Track
Surf and Turf: The Race TrackOne of the favorite places for The G to hang out at, especially in Summ - Are You Looking For Cholesterol Drugs Without Side Effect?
High cholesterol level is probably one of the widely spread complication among Americans. Almost for - Friday the 13th could be a lucky day?
Friday the 13th sounds unlucky ? Traditional superstition ? And a lot of people dislike it and beli - Don't Judge A Man
Our world is full of bad tongues, fault-finders, gossipers, mockers, and insulters but do these grou - When Personalized Gifts Make a Difference
Finding the right gifts for a particular occasion is always a challenging task. Sometimes it is nic - Managing My Resistance: Learning To Flow With What Life Offers
One of the things that interests me most about conflict is the tendency to resist it and the ways in - What Are Horoscopes Based On?
If you do not know much about astrology, you may wonder what are horoscopes based on and how astrolo - 7 Dumbest Relationship Mistakes Smart People Make
We often find ourselves amid the wreckage of a love gone wrong, wringing our hands and asking, "Why - Motivation as the heart of self improvement
You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Motivation in the following paragraphs - Is Complete Abstinence from Use of Paychoactive Substances Necessary for Recovery?
Can a sober alcoholic in recovery who has no history of abuse of marijuana, use marijuana without