Make Ten New Year's Resolutions to Become More Optimistic in 2011

By Dr. Russ

Most of you are finalizing or beginning to implement your New Year's Resolution list this first week of January.  The most common resolutions are about weight loss, fitness, health, wellness and spending less.  Why not make your New Year's Resolutions about becoming more optimistic every moment of every day?

Yes, you can actually plan to learn, practice, and become more optimistic in your VIEW of every life circumstance.  The first step is to set goals for optimism self improvement.  Use the New Year's Resolution Stamina Quiz below to help you formulate your goals for optimism self-improvement. 

There are 10 questions:

• Each question focuses on a different skill of optimism.  As you can see from the response choices, the most optimistic responses have to do with the speed and/or frequency with which you are able to take the OPTIMISTIC VIEW.  Thus, for example, in question one, if you want to learn to let go of a setback or negative event, the goal is stated in terms of how quickly you can "let go." 

Dr. Russ Buss New Years Resolution Optimism Stamina Quiz

Instructions: Circle the number next to the item that represents the desired improvement goal in optimistic perspective for you in 2011:

1). In 2011, I resolve to learn to quickly and easily “temporalize” the negative, let go of a rejection, lost sale, or mistake; put it behind me and focus on the next positive step.  My goal is to be able to this in:

1.      less than a minute

2.      less than 15 minutes

3.      less than an hour

4.      half a day or less

5.      a day or more

2). In 2011, when the “I Can Attitude” goes missing, I will practice and learn to get it back in:

1.      less than an hour

2.      one to three hours

3.      three to eight hours, eight to twelve hours

4.      a day or more

5.      several days

3). I resolve to learn to be able to put myself into a “Creative Zone” in any given moment in order generate new ideas or possible solutions to business opportunities or problems:

1.      Always

2.      Often

3.      Sometimes

4.      Rarely

5.      Never

4). In 2011, when I hit a roadblock to my plans, I will adapt and make needed changes in my goals and plans:

1.      Without any hesitation

2.      With a little hesitation

3.      With a fair amount of hesitation

4.      With difficulty

5.      With a great deal of difficulty

5). I will practice and learn to access the thought as needed: “no matter what the outcome or what happens to me in any given moment, I know it is how I view it that counts:” 

1.      Instantly

2.      With some effort and self-talk

3.      With a great deal of effort and self-talk

4.      A second thought much delayed by interference of worry and negative thinking

5.      A rare thought; a failure means I’m a failure

6). When I wake up in the morning, I resolve to be excited about all the new opportunities, possibilities and adaptations to change I will be making that day:

1.      Extremely excited

2.      Very excited

3.      Somewhat excited

4.      A little excited

5.      Not excited

7). In 2011, I resolve to take on one new challenge that involves the risk of failure. 

1.      Multiple times per day

2.      Daily

3.      Weekly

4.      Monthly

5.      Not at all

8). I resolve to seek out new ideas, knowledge and skill to make self-improvements in all major aspects of life including personal goals, relationships, career, job and work, health, wellness and fitness.

1.      Daily

2.      Weekly

3.      Monthly

4.      Quarterly

5.      Yearly

9). In 2011, I resolve to seek out and embrace disagreement and different perspectives as I evaluate various options and choices involved in any important decision.

1.      from many people

2.      from some people

3.      from a few people

4.      from one or two people

5.      rarely or never

10). In 2011, When I succeed or fail, I will think about: 

1.      Only the next step I need to take

2.      Mostly about the next step but also about how others will view me

3.      Equally about the next step and about how others will view me

4.      Mostly about how others will view me and a little about the next step

5.      Only about how others will view me

Scoring Key for New Years Resolution Optimism Stamina:

SCORING INSTRUCTIONS: Simply add the score, 1 - 5, that you gave each item. Your score should range from 10 to 50.  The lower the score, the higher the optimism challenge and goal setting for 2011. 

10 or less ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA GOALS are very ambitious.  Congratulations on your willingness to make this much effort to improve in 2011.

11-20 ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA GOALS are right on target; realistic but with challenges.

21-30 ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA GOALS reflect hesitation and caution.   Review them and see if you might want to set your sights a little higher.

31-40 ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA GOALS reflect either a low beginning point. i.e., you are trying to get out of a deep pessimism, or a fear of failure about becoming more optimistic. 

41-50 ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA GOALS reflect considerable hopeless and helplessness about your ability to change your VIEW to one of OPTIMISM. 

Comments

[james]

Most of you are finalizing or beginning to implement your New Year's Resolution list this first week of January. -replica Gucci Sandals