On the BIGG success Show hear us share the strategies we are using to stay optimistic during these pessimistic times. Here’s a a summary of that discussion…
We’ve seen posts from friends, and we’ve talked with entrepreneurs who are down and out.
The pandemic continues to wear on, in addition to social unrest, a severe economic downturn, political and social strife, a major energy crisis in our biggest energy state… all hitting us all at once.
How do we rise above the struggles and negativity, and stay optimistic and hopeful for the future?
She is discussing his work with Laura Bridgman. She was the first blind and deaf student in America to be educated in the English language, preceding Helen Keller by about fifty years.
With that background, here is Helen Keller in her own words:
“Dr. Howe found his way to Laura Bridgman’s soul because he began with the belief that he could reach it. English jurists had said that the deaf-blind were idiots in the eyes of the law. Behold what the optimist does. He converts a hard legal axiom; he looks behind the dull impassive clay and sees a human soul in bondage, and quietly, resolutely sets about its deliverance. His efforts are victorious. He creates intelligence out of idiocy and proves to the law that the deaf-blind man is a responsible being.”
She continues, “When [Howe] offered to teach the blind to read, he was met by a pessimism that laughed at his folly. Had he not believed that the soul of man is mightier than the ignorance that fetters it, had he not been an optimist, he would not have turned the fingers of the blind into new instruments.”
She closes this passage with a quote that really grabbed our attention:
“No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.”
On the other hand, there is the optimist. She says:
“The optimist believes, attempts, achieves. He stands always in the sunlight. Some day the wonderful, the inexpressible, arrives and shines upon him, and he is there to welcome it. His soul meets his own and beats a glad march to every new discovery, every fresh victory over difficulties, every addition to human knowledge and happiness.”
A recent study of happiness showed that the birds you flock with make a BIGG difference. Nicholas Christaskis with the Harvard Medical School and James Fowler from the University of California at San Diego found that the more connections you have with happy people, the more likely you are to be happy.
"24/7" finished ninth on the list. Can we add 365 to it?
"With all due respect" came in fifth. It made us think of one that irritates us. Why do people say, “I’m not trying to be rude” when they are getting ready to say something rude?
And the phrase that the wonderful people at Oxford found most irritating – “at the end of the day.”
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I love The Apprentice, but have you ever noticed how many contestants use that phrase over and over again?
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I think I just figured out my New Year’s Resolution for 2009. I’m going to start using the phrase, “at the beginning of the day” because I’m an optimist!
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These phrases are crutches gone mainstream. They made us think about our own crutches.
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I say “that’s right” a lot which is similar to “absolutely” which finished sixth on the Oxford list.
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I find myself saying “you know” more often than I would like. That’s definitely my crutch.
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Getting off crutches
Record yourself. In order to stop using crutch words, you have to become aware of them. Record yourself and listen to the words you’re using as a crutch.
Create substitutes. Come up with two or three alternates to the word or phrase you use over and over. When you feel yourself ready to rely on your crutch, or you know you’ve already said it, force yourself to use a different word or phrase.
So let’s look at “you know.” Why not lead with …
“You’re probably aware of this.” “You may find this interesting.” “I bet you can relate to this.”
Don’t those phrases sound better if you’re going to use one?
“That’s right” could be “Good point” or “You’re dead on.”
Pause to think. We won’t speak for you, but sometimes when we talk, our mouths seem to get ahead of our brains! So we lean on our crutches to fill the space. That’s because, as humans, we’re uncomfortable with … silence.
There’s no reason to be. A second of silence gives you time to fully digest what has been said. It actually improves communication.
What’s your crutch? What alternatives could you use? And, while we’re at it, what word or phrase drives you crazy?
https://biggsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/bigg-success_stacked-1080.png10801080George Krueger & Mary-Lynn Fosterhttps://biggsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/BIGG-Success-Nurturing-Your-Inner-Entreprener.jpgGeorge Krueger & Mary-Lynn Foster2008-12-05 01:30:252015-06-14 15:55:22How to Stop Using a Crutch Word
The good people at About.com have developed a great quiz to find out if you’re an optimist or a pessimist. You can actually choose between five quizzes. The full version is only 15 questions and will take you less than 5 minutes.
When you’re done, you’ll get a question-by-question summary, showing whether your answer is optimistic or pessimistic. You’ll also get a final score – and you’ll know how you rate overall.
So go ahead … take this quiz. Unless you think something bad is bound to happen if you do!
https://biggsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/bigg-success_stacked-1080.png10801080George Krueger & Mary-Lynn Fosterhttps://biggsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/BIGG-Success-Nurturing-Your-Inner-Entreprener.jpgGeorge Krueger & Mary-Lynn Foster2008-03-26 22:37:032021-01-24 00:20:10Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist?
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Merriam – Webster knows a little something about words. They just released 
I love The Apprentice, but have you ever noticed how many contestants use that phrase over and over again? 
I think I just figured out my New Year’s Resolution for 2009. I’m going to start using the phrase, “at the beginning of the day” because I’m an optimist! 