I'm an Optimist

But I Don't Know That It Does My Any Good

By: John Gratton

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Attitude is the Only Disability

There are a lot of books about optimism, espousing the benefits of positive thinking, most of which are useful. There are a surprising number of books about the hidden dangers of unrestrained positive thinking, too. I wouldn’t go as far as some, claiming positive thinking is an “undermining tyranny” if not a mental illness, but I do agree excessive positive thinking could cause us to ignore genuine feelings and give us false perceptions and expectations. But the same is true if not more so when we practice excessive negative thinking.

When we avoid or even deny our true experiences, we can lose touch with ourselves, with the realities around us, so positive thinking, while essential, must be only part of our thinking process and how we act and react to events. Negative and positive experiences are part of our daily lives. That’s the reality we face, so we must face it honestly.

In the end, though, as difficult as life can be, as conflicted as our thoughts can be, I’ll side with Zig Ziglar and others who propose “Attitude is the only disability,” and that in the long run, while not a panacea, “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.”

Sample chapters:

What Are My Chances of Being Reincarnated as a Racehorse?

Positive Thinking is Like Spray Paint on Rust

What Would Mike Nesmith Do?

Don't Be Stupid

I'm a Cubs Fan Because I Can't Afford World Series Tickets

Playing Guitar Just Like A-ringing a Bell is Not Enough

Where Are We Going and Why Am I in This Handbasket?

Hello, I'm Mister Ed