"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."~ Bill Vaughan ~
Were you excited to see the old year end or were you excited to start the new? Which one are you, the pessimist or optimist?
Not everyone regards a new year as a new beginning. For some, it is just the continuation of time with the same habits and same day-to-day pattern. For others - me included - January 1st is always a fresh start. I don't toss everything aside and start over - that is not the point. It is, however, the chance to start with a blank page, to set new goals and to learn how to achieve them best!
January is just a great opportunity to reflect on the past. I am big on visualization and always write down my goals beginning of each year: personal and professional. I don't make promises I know I can't keep but I set realistic goals. Those don't need to be monstrous achievements - I don't say: I want to lose 50 lbs this year. Instead, I say I want to get into better shape and I'll accomplish this by working out twice a week and incorporate the little stuff on a daily basis, e.g. park further away from the store and walk, take the stairs instead of the elevator etc.. I don't say I want to eliminate all our debt (although that is a nice thought) but instead focus on not incurring new debt by paying off credit cards as soon as the bill hits my inbox.
Personally, I follow these 5 basic rules on goal-setting:
1. be realistic
2. write them down
3. revisit goals on regular basis and reassess
4. celebrate progress along the way
5. don't beat yourself up if you don't accomplish it all
Each rule carries the same importance, one without the others will make it harder to reach your goals. While I've always written down my goals, I had to work hard on the last one. I no longer obsess about the goals I did not accomplish one year but instead analyze what I missed and what I could do better and use that knowledge to fill my blank pages! My friend Mike Cooper wrote a great blog about that very thought: Turn Setbacks Into Springboards. It is a great read, very inspiring and motivational.
The start of a new year is always exciting to me! There is so much hope for a better tomorrow and the promise of new opportunities. I choose to be an optimist - I stayed up to see the new year in!
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day!"
~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce ~
Which one are you, the pessimist or optimist?
ANDREA BEDARD, M.A. ~ THOMPSON COMPANY, REALTORS ~ LIVING MARYLAND BLIPS
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Thompson Company, Realtors
15711 New Hampshire Ave Silver Spring, MD 20905
o: (301) 384-9177 c: (240)593-2860
andreabedard@mris.com
For Military Families Maryland Home Search
Andrea is a proud military spouse, mom of two beautiful little girls, hobby decorator and a Realtor® based in Silver Spring, MD. Andrea focuses on Montgomery County and Howard County Real Estate, she enjoys everything beautiful in life and always answers the phone with a smile.
All photographs are my own and I'd like to keep it that way. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
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59 Comments on Optimist or pessimist - which one are you?
Congratulations on the feature, I am an Optomist, of course! Happy New Year!
I was an optimist until life put a beating on me in the last 5 years. However my company wich was real estate based crashed with the market in '06 and by '08 it was all gone. I became a pessimist. Last year I took steps to get back in the game and I feel that THIS year I shall once again gain my optimism back. I actually have smile on my face again. Here is to a better and brighter new year! (and maybe I never stoped being a pessimist it was just a big hole to work out of)
Thanks for the "hint" great idea!
I hope you had a very good 2012, and while I am at it. I am subscribing to your blog as soon as I finish this comment!
Great post! I think I am both an optimist and a pessimist.
My nature is to be more of a pessimist, but most days I am able to fight that gloomy nature. I think it stems from the fact that I am a very detail-oriented person, so if all of the details are not in place, I don't see success.
I have done a biz plan for 2012 and am going to chat with my broker to see if it is realistic. I'd really like to kick it up a notch in 2012.
Congrats on the feature!
Andrea,
very timely. This certainly is the time to set things out. You need both goals and a strategy.
Brian
To quote the Beatles "It's just another day." I look at "counting" years, months, days, etc. as a place setter. We can look back as say "Oh, in May 2008 . . ." and it gives us the length of time, or the duration. Other than that, the "new" year is not magical or mystical. My dog doesn't know it's the new year and she's pretty much doing the same thing as 2011. I am happy with my life and the journey. What set for a new direction when I'm sailing in the right one already?!?
Hi Andrea,
I watched the New Year arrive and I'm excited about the year ahead. Holding onto the past will get you no where. It will only hold you back. Thanks for the post!
Matt
Hi Kat: Love the attitude! Hope 2012 will turn out to be all that and then some!
Hi Margie: I love a good quote! Thank you for sharing this one! I agree!
Hi Mike: Thanks. I had to work hard on a couple points but am seeing the rewards and I'm sticking to it! Happy 2012!
Hi Jo: Being realistic is a key to being or becoming an optimist I think!
Hi Gene: I'm glad! Thanks for the reblog!
Hi Lindsey: I have def. felt like that in the past, when my husband was deployed for example. Those times I couldn't wait for the old to end and the new to start just so I could say "hubby is going to be home this year"!
Hi Sue: That's the perfect combination for success!
Hi Eric: I like your balance! I'm not always 100% of course, we all have good days and not-so-good days (you see a pessimist would say bad).
Hi Amy: Thank you very much! I hope you can fill your pages with lots of good stuff!
Hi Phil: Thank you. I've seen the success that can come from sticking to the 5 pts. Happy new year!
Hi Morgan: I'm looking forward to 2012 as well. 2011 was a year of major changes for my family but it's all good stuff and I'm excited about the future.
Hi LaNita: That's great! It's so much nicer being positive.
Hi Sandy: Thank you! No, not bullying optimism just determination!
Hi Rosalie Mary Sunshine: I thought you would be! I've def. had my share of too lofty goals and disappointments in the end. But I learned - it's part of the journey - and now I am a lot more realistic about my can-dos & and I'm okay if I don't reach all my goals as long as I know I tried!
Hi Karen: That's a good one... you are giving the whole half full/half empty discussion another dimension.
Hi Bridget: Thank you! It sure can! It's not always easy but the key is to learn from it all and apply what we've learned. I have not-so-good days but I learned to get over it a lot faster and use it as a chance to improve. Rewards are important - I agree, even the little ones are totally worth it!
Hi Leslie: Another cynical optimist, see comment #17 and #43! I'm understanding that to be a positive thing? Happy new year!
Hi Mike: ... and everything happens for a reason, even the bad! Some time later we understand why and suddenly it all makes sense and we can turn it into something good! I like your "empty .. but one more to swallow" .. def. optimist!
Hi Tammy: I believe that's called human! I don't think there's anybody who's never had not-so-good days.
Hi Christine: Thank you very much. Happy new year!
Hi John: I believe that many of us struggled, I def. did. I'm sorry to hear about the tough times but am glad you are smiling again and are looking ahead optimistically. 2012 is going to be better!
Hi again Russell: I'm looking forward to it, should be interesting! Thank you very much for the subscribe. I appreciate it.
Hi Emily: Thank you. I know what you mean! I'm a perfectionist, that's why I had to learn to not beat myself up over not accomplishing it all. I'm not 100% there yet, but I'm getting better and better at it.
Hi Brian: Thank you. One without the other wont bring the success we are looking for. Goals are great but are only accomplished by chance if we don't have a strategy.
Hi Carla: That's what I'm thinking when it's a not-so-good-day, "It's just another day"! I like the blank page and starting fresh though. It doesn't have to be January 1st of course, it's just easier b/c of the holidays, closing out the business year and starting back at 1/1. I've found it helpful personally to have a certain amount of time (1 year) to set goals, to work towards them, reevaluate and see how/what I can improve during the following year.
Hi Matt: Very true! I'm excited about the new year and I'm liking all the optimism that I've been reading/hearing lately!
What if I'm an early riser? What does that make me? I tried to stay up till Midnight, but just couldn't. I'm normally up at 5 a.m., which means I normally am in bed by 10.
I am optimistically looking forward to a great 2012!
Andrea,
I am a definite optimist! Enjoyed celebrating the new year and getting a fresh perspective on how to make 2012 even better!
All the best, Michelle
Most rainers tend to be optimistic !!!!!!!!!! Let's send each other a referral in 2012 !!!
The glass is sometimes half full and sometimes half empty.
Depends on my mood but it's usually half full.
Good post, thanks for sharing it.
Optimistic all the way :) Even the bad brings the Good!
I don't know if I'm an optimist or a pessimist. I've always just thought of myself as a realist.
Andrea, I'm an optimist because I went to bed before midnight because I knew the new year would come regardless of whether I was up or not! :-) I think your number 5 of the goal setting process is a very important one, it's great when you can reach all your goals but if it's not possible and you did your best, then there is nothing to regret.
Inspriring words to kick off the year! Great job!
Hi Bob: That would make you a creature of habit :-) You are "optimistically looking forward" and think 2012 will be great - if that isn't extremely optimistic then I don't know what is!
Hi Anthony: I think we all have those days when the glass looks rather empty .. Thank you.
Hi Samantha: That's what I like to hear! We may not always see it right away but with some time & distance we can see the good in everything!
Hi Gabe: We've had a few 'realistic optimists' respond - sounds like the perfect balance to me!
Hi Silvia: There's nothing we can do about it - whether we like or not - it's always coming so we might as well enjoy it! I agree.. as long as we try our best, it's all we can do!
Hi Jamey: Thank you very much! I'm very happy when I can inspire!
Andrea,
I am definetly an optimist. Looking forward to the new year, but also know there are some major changes I would like to make, and that is going to take major work. Thank you for your inspiring blog.
Writing down goals that are not realistic is just an exercise in futility.