Charles B. Rangel Overcomes Election Challenges with Optimism

By Dr. Russ,

Optimists never give up on their quest or mission in life.  Optimists keep pursuing the goal despite how many or how high the hurdles they must leap.

I have never talked to or met Representative Charles B. Rangel, U.S. House of Representatives, but I believe based on his actions that he is a “Moment-to-Moment-optimist.”

Yesterday, June 26, 2012, Charles Rangel won re-election to be the Democratic nominee for a 22^nd term in congress.  Rangel represents a district in Harlem, New York’s 13^th district. 

I imagine Mr. Rangel has been an optimistic overcomer all his life.  He has served in congress for 42 years; first elected in 1970.  But, the most recent challenges that he overcame to win this re-election bid had to be the most formidable of his life. 

Many said that at age 82, he should just “hang-it-up.”  Instead Mr. Rangel stayed focused on his goal and life mission.  He overcame the obstacles.

What were these obstacles?

1. Age.  He is 82.
2. Censured by the House Ethics committee that found him guilty of 11 counts of ethical violations in 2010.
3. Redistricting which dramatically changed the demographics of his district extending his Harlem territory to the Bronx making it pre-dominantly Hispanic.
4. Three challengers were on the ballot. 

An effervescent optimist, Rangel promised to prove to any doubters that he was the right choice when he said:

“If they didn’t think after 42 years that I was the best qualified, I promise them that in the next two years they’ll have no question about the fact that we elected the best.”

In the above quote, Rangel speaks humbly of his intent to serve those who were against him and to serve them well.  He didn’t gloat over his victory or otherwise criticize the critics.  No, instead he put forth an optimistic message that he will serve those who were for him and against him.  No wonder he was re-elected.

What obstacles and hurdles are you overcoming?  Have you let them get you down?  If so, grab on to the attitude of Rangel and become an optimist like him.

Tom Izzo and Draymond Green Lead the MSU Spartans to Sweet Sixteen Third Year in a Row with Optimistic Spirit

By Dr. Russ

March Madness is in full swing.  Tom Izzo, Draymond Green, and the MSU Men’s Basketball team continue to teach the invaluable role of optimism in leadership and success not only in sports, but in life. 

Once again MSU is in the NCAA “Sweet Sixteen.”  Unlike last year and the year before, when they had many apparent obstacles to overcome, this year they entered the tournament as a number one seed.  But, optimists take nothing for granted and Izzo and his star senior player Green have carried over their optimistic lessons of years past to build on the successes of this year.

OPTIMISM TIP:  Be an Obstacle Terminator

What is an obstacle?

Obstacles are factors that have the potential to interfere with, derail or completely block our progress toward goal accomplishment.  Internal-to-Self Obstacles are our collections of fears, anxieties and self-doubts in any given moment.  External-to-Self-Obstacles are challenges and problems that need to be assessed and solved.

How do optimists versus pessimists deal with obstacles?

Highly Skilled Optimists (about 10% of the general population) learn to accurately identify obstacles standing in the way of successfully completing their plans and goals so that they can effectively terminate them with rationale problem solving.

Optimist-Pessimist-‘Tweeers (formerly referred to as Mr. or Ms. In-Betweeners; about 70% of the general population) try to go through, over, under or around the obstacle with foolhardiness, ignoring, fearing and stumbling around. In effect they self-handicap their progress and experience unnecessary frustration, worry and irritability with only moderate success at best.

Pessimists (about 20% of the general population) give their power over to the obstacle, blame it for their failure, say it can’t be or couldn’t have been done; impose a negative state of hopelessness upon themselves.

Example of an Obstacle Terminator

Two years ago, Draymond Green, a stand-out sophomore, basketball player for Michigan State University, was driving toward the basket with 23 seconds left in the NCAA semi-final game against Butler University.  MSU was one point down, 50 to 49.   In 6’6” Green’s way was one “BIG EXTERNAL-TO-SELF-OBSTACLE,” 6’9” Butler player Gordon Hayward.  As he leaped up to take the shot, Green appeared to get “smacked” by Hayward. The ball bounced off the rim of the basket; no points.  The refs did not call a foul.  Butler won the game.  Afterwards Hayward admitted he might have gotten a piece of Green’s shooting arm, committing a foul.

So, what did Green say?

What Green DID NOT say:

1.    He did not blame the refs for a “no call,” doing so would have made him a PESSIMIST since he has no hope of overcoming the obstacle of the “BAD CALL REF.”
2.    He did not say Hayward made a better play on him.  Doing so would have made him an OPTIMIsM-PESSIMISM-‘TWEENER as he only had partial control over the outcome of any one-on-one play in any given moment.

What Green DID say: 

• “Maybe I did get smacked, but on my behalf I have to go stronger . . .”

In this moment, Green was speaking like a “highly skilled optimist” because he took personal responsibility for the future TERMINATION of an obstacle like this.  In saying, he needs to learn to “go stronger” toward the basket he was taking CONTROL OF WHAT HE COULD CONTROL – learning and practicing the skill needed to GO STRONGER; not let a “smack on the arm” interfere with his future shot making.   He likely already is planning out practice sessions where he can PRACTICE “going stronger” against JUST SUCH an obstacle.

An Obstacle Terminator Role Model and Teacher

In my opinion, Green’s coach, Tom Izzo, is another example of a “highly skilled optimist.”  As a college student, he missed a game winning free throw at the end of a championship game.  Since that day, and right up through today, Izzo shoots one hundred foul shots a day in any given practice making sure that whatever “Internal-to-Self-Obstacle” (there are no external-obstacles in foul shooting) that interfered with his shot in-that-moment stays TERMINATED FOREVER.

Fast Forward to 2012

Optimists learn from their mistakes. In last night’s game against St. Louis University, St. Louis was on a run and had pulled within two points with only a few minutes left.  This time, instead of trying to muscle past the obstacle of several defensive players and go for a lay-up, Green passed out to his point guard yelling encouragement and confidence to Keith Appling that he could make the three-pointer despite a recent shooting slump.  Appling sunk the shot, Green got credit for an assist, and MSU went on to win without further major challenge.

Optimistic Joy of Performing

By Dr. Russ

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day. 

As many of you know from reading this blog, I am a tap dancer.  This past weekend I appeared in my seventh dance recital.  In today’s post I draw on my own in-the-moment experience from dance in order to make or remake a teaching point or two about optimism; create some “Bussters” to “Busst” up some pessimism!

So, today I will construct what I call some Shuffle-Ball-Change Bussters.

First, let’s talk about the recital.  The music theme for the recital was Disney World and our particular song was Camp Rock.  There were five performers including the instructor; three women and two men.  We began preparing for this performance in January.  Our class met weekly and we learned a few new eight counts each week until we had been introduced to the whole four minute routine by early April.  Then we had eight or so classes to really prepare for what hopefully will be a flawless performance.  Over and over we go over it, sometimes slow and sometimes fast.  I sometimes amaze myself with the speed and fluidity with which I can move my feet compared to when I began tap dancing seven years ago.  Having given that background, it is time to move to today’s Bussters.

Shuffle-Ball-Change-Bussters

"A little drums, please" Busster: The call for drums is the opening line of the song.  After five months of preparation, it is here. No matter how much you have prepared, done the routine over and over, sometimes flawlessly, sometimes not, there is this fear I will forget everything and get frozen in time.  In this moment, I know that moment-to-moment optimism thinking really comes in handy. “Just focus on the moment,” I tell myself. “Walk on stage, take my place, keep head down.”

•    “Just go from one moment to the next.”   The music starts, my head pops up, the audience comes alive and I start imaginary drumming, like I’m just having fun at a park with friends.”

2.    Perididdle Busster:  A perididdle is a rather simple tap step sequence that looks complicated and can be performed lightening fast.  A key staple in the stable of steps of any tapper.  Remember, tap dancing is just a sequence of heel and toe weight shifts done in rhythm with occasional syncopation for emphasis and spice.  In this step, the weight remains all on one foot while the other lifts and makes heel and toe contact with the floor.  For example, the left foot is stationary, holding your weight while the right foot lifts off the floor and goes – heel tap, toe tap, toe tap, heel tap.  As the last heel tap drops on the floor the weight shifts entirely to the right foot and the procedure is repeated to the left.  If the step is done correctly and with a little flair, the tapper looks like she is floating on air as she goes from foot to foot.

•    Now, I am reminded of a good rule of thumb for optimism: It is always good to start with something easy that has a little flair.  While building your confidence, the “flash” quickly grabs the attention of others, in this case - the audience.

3.    Eleanor Powell Busster:  A classic named after this Big Band Era Dancer.  Begin with a flap then heel tap on the right foot, followed by left heel tap and weight shift; while weight remains right, pick up and brush the left toe back across the floor, lift right heel up and drop down while keeping weight right, and then hit the toe of the left foot behind the right ankle and step down on left shifting weight there.  Repeat back and forth three more times.

•    During the dress rehearsal the instructor forgot this step and messed it up, reminding us all that mistakes are inevitable. Just keep doing your best and keep your feet moving no matter what!  The pressure was off.  We all relaxed a little.

4.    Duet Busster: About two thirds of the way through the routine the two guy dancers (remember: I am one of them) had duet piece.  Now all eyes are on us and we are supposed to be tapping in harmony.  To help stay in harmony we had worked out two quick head nods to each other so we could quickly glance at each other’s feet and make sure we were in step.  

•    Like good optimists we anticipated the obstacle and prepared for it.  The audience just thought we were having a great time in the role of “NYC street dancers.”

5.    Applause Busster: Focus on your next step, step and steps after that and the outcome takes care of itself.  

•    As we completed our duet and turned to let the “girls” come forward, the audience erupted in applause.  I remained in detachment mode, but allowed myself a little, “Now that was really cool.” My smile broadened as my legs and feet ached, thankful for a little break in the background while the “girls” now did their routine up front.

6.    "We did it!" Busster: The end is near.  We turn, do a little rock and roll, rocking-horse-like routine-- right then left then right again--one last stamp and everyone points in the air in unison.  The audience erupts in applause.  We start to walk off with this casual NYC rocker routine yelling “see ya” going off stage in all different directions as if this was a stroll in the park on Sunday afternoon.  I am a little winded backstage, but no more than anyone else; my legs are sore and cramping a little, but I never let on.  Backstage we high five each other, and everyone laments a little mistake, a misstep, or poorly articulated toe tap.

•    What’s funny is that the audience doesn’t notice these missteps as long as the feet keep moving and the flow is there.  After the show as we mingle with the audience we get lots of “great jobs,” “I just loved your dance,”  “I look forward to seeing you dance every year,” “Your dance was the highlight of the show for me!”  Everything up to this point was process. Now these comments are pure outcome and it sure feels good, and makes all that effort worthwhile.  After two nights of performance we are all glad it is over for another year and we look forward to new process goals in the fall, and the continuous learning curve of becoming better “tappers.”

See ya!!!!!

Optimism of $4 Gas Prices

By Dr. Russ,

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day. 

Are four dollar gas prices ruining your day and view of the week?  It is now time to “Busst” up the pessimism of the pump.  Today, I offer a few tips to get rid of those gas pains and turn this negative news into a chance to develop more Optimistic Stamina.

I know, the first thing you think about is how much the $4 price tag on a gallon of gas is going to limit your lifestyle and cause you to have to give up things you enjoy just to keep the car running.  Additionally, the price of all consumer goods rises as the cost of transporting stuff to stores in trains, planes and trucks increases.

Dr. Russ Bussters to Find Optimism in $4 a Gallon Gas

1. First, redirect your thinking away from your perceived losses to potential gains - opportunities to learn; especially how to do more with less. 
2. Second, step back and take a totally different perspective on how you live day to day. Consider walking, biking or using less expensive public transportation to get around.  Enjoy rearranging the priorities in your household budget.  Allow yourself to imagine redesigning your life to live in a community in which everything was created with the concept that access to basic needs, family and friends was not dependent on the automobile.
3. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn new skills.  For example, one set of skills might be taking better care of your car so that it gets maximum mileage. Start learning how to work out a more detailed and careful family budget, planning and accounting processes.
4. Accept the need to adapt and learn life adaptation skills.  There is no doubt that what the futurists of the late 1970’s said would be happening is happening with respect to the pace of change.  The pace of technological and societal change is accelerating ever faster and faster.  The more we learn to be adaptable the better,  and the more stamina we will have to deal with all the future change that will surely come our way.
5. As we make the above changes in perspective and optimism we experience a new sense of self-confidence and learn over and over that we are quite capable of overcoming any challenge that comes our way.
6. We get to practice our basic math and estimating skills.  I find that instead of just filling-up, I am calculating how many gallons I can buy for $25 or $40; how much I will save if I find gas ten or twenty-five cents cheaper; and how many miles I will likely be able to travel on five gallons.
7. Finally, I realize that all of the thinking that goes into making these adaptations, finding opportunities and practicing budget and math skills keeps my mind active and growing in capacity instead of stunted and diminishing.  It is almost as fun as playing Sudoku!



Goals and Feedback are Keys to Living Optimistically even when Down

By Dr. Russ

According to the Core Principles of Optimism, optimists set goals, continually gather data about goal progress and revise goals accordingly.  After a month of Jackie’s journey toward elite level fitness, it was time for a data check.

Jackie got on the scale to measure weight loss and body fat percentage.  There was no hiding from Trainer Jenn. 

Jackie’s initial weight loss goal was 4 lbs. for the first month.  She began at 143 lbs., but the scale showed only a 2 lb. loss to 141 lbs.

At the beginning of the training, Jackie’s body fat was high at 30.6%.  Her initial goal was to drop to 28.5%.  The fat meter showed it had dropped to 28.1%.  Jackie exceeded her goals and has lost 2.5% body fat.

Optimists know there are many ways to measure progress and so they set multiple goals with the expectation that progress will be made towards some goals more rapidly than on others.  We see this fact clearly in Jackie’s progress with more rapid body fat loss than weight loss.

Optimists focus on what they can control.  Loss of weight and body fat are complex processes over which we do not have direct control.  Jackie has the right focus when she says it is time to get back to the gym and do the next steps of the exercise routine.

While she doesn’t have control over weight and fat loss, she does have near total control over her diet.  And, a look at her journal with Trainer Jenn results in a modification of when she eats fruits.

Obstacles occur as potential barriers to any goal pursuit.  However, optimists never identify obstacles in order to make an excuse, but only as a problem to be solved on the path to the goal.

Did Jackie fail in her weight goal?  Not at all.  She clearly made progress and a half-pound per week weight loss represents a nice steady pace.  She is still trying to get to a pound a week which would drop her to 138 lbs. in 4 weeks. 

Jackie does offer an interesting explanation which allows her to “temporalize” any lack of progress she might be perceiving. 

• She states that at the beginning of February, she had some negative thoughts or worries going on regarding her life outside of the gym and that these issues may have distracted her from putting forth her best effort the first two weeks of training. 

She frames this worry as a temporary event that is past and will no longer be an obstacle.

Now that a formal, four week assessment has been made, it is time for her to focus on the new goals for the next four weeks: a body fat of 26%, and weight of 138 lbs.

Post a comment and give Jackie some positive encouragement for her progress so far and help spur her on to complete her 12 week fitness journey to the M-22 Challenge.