Take a Magical Ride on the Michael J. Fox Optimism Bus

By Dr. Russ,

We continue our visit with the eternal optimist Michael J. Fox who is "Always Looking Up."

It’s Wednesday and time for “Just One Thing” for one more moment of Optimism. Dr. Russ, “Please tell me Just One Thing I can do it increase my Optimism.”   

Dr. Russ: Take a Ride on the Magic Bus with Michael J. Fox
Optimism Seeker: What? How do I do that?

Michael J. Fox shouts: “This is almost worth having Parkinson’s for!” Michael is speaking to one thousand donors gathered at the New York City Sheraton for a gala fundraising evening titled: “A funny thing happened on the way to cure Parkinson’s.” (p. 272)

What did Michael J. Fox mean by, “worth having Parkinson’s for?" He had found more meaning in his life after than before having Parkinson’s. He had a found a purpose much larger than himself and his own acting career. He had raised more money for Parkinson’s research than any other such foundation. And, he was having a blast with Pete Townsend and The Who, singing and playing the guitar, recalling Marty McFly, "Back to the Future," and of course Chuck Berry, in the encore fundraiser song: "Magic Bus."

Let’s take a short ride on the "Magic Bus" with some of the lyrics:

Every day I get in the queue
To get on the bus that takes me to you
Too much magic bus

But can I buy your magic bus?
Nooooooooo!

I don’t care how much I pay
I wanna drive my bus to my baby each day
Magic bus, magic bus, magic bus
Goes like thunder
It’s a four stage wonder

Now I’ve got my magic bus
Now I drive my baby every day
Every day you’ll see the dust
As I drive my baby in my magic bus

{Google “Magic Bus” to get the complete set of lyrics and hear the song.}

Since taking up the cause of Parkinson’s, Michael J. Fox discovered he had been riding in a Magic Bus, the Magic Bus of Optimism. There is no such thing as too much “Magic Bus.” We need every moment of Optimism we can get.

Now, for a few verses of the Dr. Russ Buss theme song:

Get on the Buss
Don’t make a fuss
Leave stuff behind
Especially your negative mind

Take a ride on the Dr. Russ Buss
Come along with Dr. Russ
Keep up the beat
Tap you feet

You can become
The best you can be
It’s not about me
Or, what you see

But what you think
Moment to Momently
About your goals
Effort and Ability

Take on something new
With fresh morning dew
Believe in yourself
Not the destiny elf

Challenge your ability
You’re not nobility
But be a toiler
And failure spoiler

Buy your challenge ticket
Step outside the white picket
Leave leisure behind
No more troubles to remind

The journey will take many twists and turns
Make mistakes, fall down, learn from your brush burns
Feel positive self-worth in each and every moment
All within your power without even a docent

Take a ride on the Dr. Russ Buss
Come along with Dr. Russ
Tap your feet
To the Optimistic Beat!

So “Just One Thing” –  For maximum optimixm, keep a light, adventurous and playful heart as you believe in the magic of the "Optimism Bus."

Rebirth and Self-reinvention with Michael J. Fox

By Dr. Russ

Three years ago we ran a series of posts based on the optimism of Michael J. Fox.  For the next couple of weeks we will revisit some of the best of those posts as they have much to teach us about optimism.

The theme for the next few weeks is REBIRTH. Take a Buss Ride with Michael J. Fox and Dr. Russ Buss as they explore Michael’s view of Optimism presented in Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist. The book, an autobiographical account of Michael's struggle with Parkinson’s over the last eight years, was released March 31, 2009. So hop on the Buss (The Dr. Russ Buss!) for a month long dose of optimism, self-confidence and enhanced self-worth Michael J. Fox style!

On this Buss Tour we will follow Michael through the pages of his new book as he elaborates on “an emotional, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual outlook that has served me throughout my life and, perhaps, even saved me throughout my life with Parkinson’s.” (p.4)

 In these troubled economic times with unemployment approaching 10%, there are many who are now faced with the prospect of rebirthing and reinventing themselves.

Rebirth and Self-Reinvention are Monumental concepts in Moment-to-Moment Optimism.

The Four Essential Dr Russ Buss Routes of Optimistic Rebirth are: Letting Go, Finding Inspiration and a New Vision, Collaborating with Others, and Making Choices.   

What is a Buss Route? A psychological pathway for learning and using optimistic thinking while acquiring skill in the use of specific Moment-to-Moment Optimizers.  

The first Buss Route for Rebirth is “Letting Go.” The route starts with a realization that a particular life path is closing off, while at the same time feeling a strong emotional attachment and clinging to a projected future that is rapidly becoming a fantasy.

In Always Looking Up, Michael J. Fox  describes what he had to let go of in order to be reborn as the International Leader and Spokesperson for finding a cure for Parkinson ’s disease. In fact, he had to make Four Buss Stops on his Buss Route to “Letting Go.” Let’s take a look at the first stop.

Buss Stop One: Letting go of the public persona that Michael J. Fox was a perfectly healthy, athletic actor. He made his Parkinson’s Disease public in 1998 after seven years of: “… if not complete denial, at least a thick padding of insulation” that allowed him to hold on to this fantasy of a public image. With his secret revealed, Michael quickly learned that “a million other Americans and their families” . . . some maintaining the same secret he had kept . . . “for fear of being misunderstood and marginalized” now saw him as “representing something to them.” (p. 25)

The first step in “Letting Go” is identifying what it is you have to let go of. Michael J. Fox first had to let go of his fear of being marginalized, being felt sorry for, and pitied. If you are thinking about re-birth and self-reinvention, start by making a list of what you might have to leave behind in order to go forward.

Encore: Create an Optimistic Organization a la Michael J. Fox

By Dr. Russ,

In continued celebration of a year of daily blogging since last April of 2009, I am posting this encore presentation on building a culture of optimism in an organization.

Dr. Russ Buss has attempted to synthesize some core principles of optimism presented by Michael J. Fox in his new book, Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, that can serve as guidelines for building and maintaining an Optimistic Organization; one that exudes a “Culture of Optimism.”

1. The Optimistic Organization actively counteracts negativity with positivity. The organization imbues the attitude and belief that it is not what happens to you, but how you view it that matters. As Michael J. Fox has taught us: We may not always have a choice about some of our circumstances in life, but we always have a choice about how we view them.
2. Optimistic workplaces create environments where everyone can share and exchange creative ideas; where individuals can explore, experience and immerse themselves in states of “relaxed-detachment” to promote creative incubation.
3. An Optimistic work-culture empowers individuals to accept, embrace, and deal with change. Adapting to change is viewed as an opportunity for individual and organizational growth. Training and development programs teach and prepare individuals to let go of outdated and now dysfunctional habits and personas, while actively supporting a workplace belief that the “inner self” can mount the effort and ability necessary to take on tough challenges.
4. Optimistic Organizations are not afraid to take risks. The culture encourages and empowers value-based, reasonable risk-taking, i.e., no short cuts, bring out best efforts and abilities people have to offer.
5. Every individual in the optimistic organization believes they have a purpose and mission within the organization.  The individuals can endorse the statement: My organization actively promotes: “The purpose that you wish to find in life requires the faith to take risks and a rejection of the bonds of fear; purpose is something for which one is responsible.” (Michael J. Fox, P. 178) Individuals are valued for efforts at self-improvement and constant re-birth and self-reinvention.
6. Optimistic organizations train and make available role models of optimistic thinking to provide guidance and mentoring to new and old employees. Note: The best golfers in the world are known to take more golf lessons everyday than the amateurs who could really use them. So, to maintain Great Optimism we need ongoing Optimistic Mentoring. The environment is one in which the individual is extremely comfortable, without any fear of stigma and ridicule, in seeking and asking for help anytime, anywhere.
7. Optimistic Organizations avoid “Group Think” by actively encouraging the expression and debate of a variety and opposing perspectives. When such a culture of diversity of input exists, individuals more naturally take responsibility for their choices, work hard to implement them, accept that a revision of choice and goals are needed when progress is limited, and are not afraid to make the “tough choices.”
8. In evaluating the individual’s strengths and weaknesses the Optimistic Organization does “performance appraisal” in the optimistic manner: assessment of strengths and weaknesses is done relative to accomplishment of specific short and long term goals – Task Orientation Focus.  The performance appraisal is not done in a pessimistic manner where the assessment of strengths and weaknesses is done relative to a personal or ego comparison: how the individual “stacks up” against other individuals or some ideal (but unrealistic) persona – Ego Orientation Focus.
9. Optimistic organizations take the “high road” when making decisions, sticking to the core values and principles of “Optimism.”
10. Optimistic Organizations recognize the core importance of stable family structures to the maintenance of an optimistic perspective in life and in the organization - each and every moment. As such, they promote policies that encourage family time together, teach core communication skills that help families work to stay together, and provide mutual support to the members.



NCAA Final Four, Easter and Passover Inspire Theme of Rebirth

By Dr. Russ

Today is Dr. Russ Busster day; the day I offer up TIPS to rid your upcoming week of any pessimism standing in your way of progress and self-improvement.  Today’s Bussters are inspired by the theme of rebirth and self-reinvention so much a part of the Easter week, Passover celebration, and the grit of teams not expected to win an NCAA championship let alone be in the Final Four.

Dr. Russ Bussters for Re-birth and Self-Reinvention

1. Let Go of the Fear of Rebirth with Self-Acceptance

The first step in the re-birth process is acceptance of the circumstances in which we find ourselves; acceptance of circumstances we cannot change.  Acceptance of a job loss, disease state, loss of a loved one, boredom of midlife, natural disaster, or debilitating injury is the first essential step of the self-reinvention process.

It is not easy to think about building a new life or path when we were pretty happy with the old one. But, sometimes the choice is either to stay stuck and mired in a “dead-end” situation or to try to find a new path and aim towards self-reinvention. 

• When Kalin Lucas, the star guard of Michigan State University's now Final Four bound team, went down with a season ending injury, the team and coaches only had a few moments during a halftime to accept the circumstances and make-up an new game plan.

• Michael J. Fox was pretty happy with a twenty-five year career in a job he loved and a wonderful wife and family.  However, a worsening Parkinson’s condition was taking the “acting career” option off the table.  He worried he might lose the other parts of his happiness if he actually gave up his career.  The first step to a new Michael was accepting and announcing to the world he had Parkinson's.

• Nine months after widowed man had lost his wife to cancer, he realized he had no choice but to move on.  He accepted his circumstances and two years later remarried; had two more children.  

2. Let Go of a Precious Self-Persona

How fixed are you on that precious self-persona; that fantasy of a projected future that can no longer be a reality?  What persona do you have to forsake in order to move ahead?

• The widowed man thought he would grow old with the love of his life.
• Michael J. Fox thought he would be a smooth, agile, skate board riding, “non-shaky” actor.
• The factory worker looked forward to lifetime employment, with a good pension, and relaxed retirement.
• The disabled athlete thought he would have a long and productive professional career.
• The family thought they would live in their four bedroom home until the kids were grown; never imagined foreclosure.

While the desired but clearly imagined projected future may be gone, the cherished past is never to be forgotten.   Muhammad Ali too old and “shaky” to fight any more can still have great afternoon watching highlights of his best fights.

That’s right, to let go of that precious self-persona that has no future, but does have a memorable past worth preserving.  Put the persona in a photo album or other archive so that you can go back and view it with delight and a little pride, as needed, without a sense of loss, but of a sense of treasure stored.

3. Let Go of the Comfort and Certainty of Familiar Day-to-Day

Focus on what you can control, not what you can’t!  

• If Tom Izzo and the now Final Four bound Spartans had focused on the loss of their star player, Kalin Lucas, to an Achilles tendon tear, they would not have been able to focus on the factors remaining in their control. Instead, they focused on promoting the back-up point guard to starter; on game plans that used more reserve players, and on the motivational significance of winning for Kalin, the fallen player.

4. Let Go of the Fantasy that Life Would be Better Off if Everything Just Stayed the Same

The sameness we seek to keep is found not on our outer surface or surroundings, but is locked safely deep in our inner core of character.  Our external surroundings are always changing and only an illusion that they stay the same.  Focus inward to find the OPTIMISTIC strength to go on.

• Tom Izzo has taught that while the external appearance of the team has changed, a new starting five, it is the inner strength of the team that carries it through tough moments in a game; and that remains the same or gets even stronger with adversity.
• The widowed husband is the same caring, devoted family man he always was.
• The laid off worker has a skill set and work ethic that is of value.
• Michael J. Fox has his creativity and enthusiasm for life forever.
• The house in which one lives does not define or redefine the character and values of the family.