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.

Black Americans Learned Optimism in the Pursuit of King’s Promised Land

By Dr. Russ

Here are 13 essential features of optimism that were inherent in the civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. Hope is essential for, but not equivalent to, optimism.  Hope describes the dream and optimism makes it happen with that “never give in – learn from mistakes – take on and overcome tough challenges” mentality.

2. In 1963, Martin Luther King gave the world a message of hope in his “I Have a Dream,” speech.  His dream: 1) blacks and whites would sit together as equals and brothers, 2) even the most racially prejudiced state, Mississippi, would be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice, 3) children born in the 1960’s would be judged by their character and not the color of their skin, and 4) hope for racial equality would be hewn out of a mountain of despair.

3. In 1963 when King expressed HOPE he was inspirational, but he WAS NOT FEARED.

4. In 1968, as the civil rights movement was reaching a crescendo of success, he delivered the famous “I have seen the Promised Land Speech,” a message of OPTIMISM that spoke of  effectiveness – we NOT ONLY WILL BUT HAVE overcome – we will succeed through hard work – nonviolent effort.

5. In 1968, with the HOPE of 1963 transformed in five years of OPTIMISTIC challenge, struggle and “make-it-happen success,” KING WAS NOW FEARED.  He was assassinated the day after the “Promised Land Speech.”

6. In the spring of 1968, first with the assassination of Martin Luther King and then Bobby Kennedy, I like many suffered a few or more pessimistic moments.  But, the civil rights movement went forward and the equality King strove for was grandly symbolized three years ago when a “black” man was sworn in as president.

7. The less grand, but important “take-away” message for those struggling through the average everyday moments of life: “A SKILLED OPTIMIST IS TO BE FEARED.”  The “skilled optimist” gets things done, overcomes obstacles and keeps rolling forward with unstoppable progress like the 30 foot high mass of muck containing steel, earth, timber, cement, and rubble from crushed homes pressed on by twenty million tons of water that spilled through a broken dam, in less that 20 minutes, that caused the Johnstown, Pa. flood of 1889.

8. If you are in business or sales and learn to become a “skilled optimist” your competition will retreat, sidestep, and fade away as you roll over the landscape.

9. “Only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “preposterous” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

10. “When people get caught up with that which is right, are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “persistence” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

11. “We are poor people, but collectively we (black Americans) are richer than all the nations of the world with the exception of nine.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “power of collaborative” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

12. “We are going into court tomorrow to fight this illegal, unconstitutional injunction. We aren’t going to let any injunction stop us. We are going on.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “overcoming obstacles” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

13. “I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “self-confident” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

Optimism in the News: Attitude RX for the Heart

By Dr. Russ

A new study suggests that a dose of daily optimism is a necessary prescription for long term heart health. (USA Today, Mary Brophy Marcus)

• A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, published yesterday, followed 2,800 heart patients in the longest and largest study to date of heart survival. 
• The patients with a more positive attitude about their recovery had a 30% greater chance of survival, after 15 years, than those with a pessimistic persuasion.
• A positive attitude is associated with long term heart health no matter how serious the coronary disease, age, gender, and income.

Over 15 years ago the researchers asked newly diagnosed heart patients about their thoughts on recovery and returning to a normal lifestyle.  Those who agreed with a statement like, “I can still live a long, and healthy life,” and disagreed with statements like, “I expect my lifestyle will suffer,” and, “I doubt I will ever fully recover,” were the optimistic responders.  Fast forward fifteen years and we see these positive attitude responders had better long term heart health.

What is the connection between optimism and long term heart health?  How does an internal mental state translate into improved physical well being?  The researchers offer these hypotheses:

People with positive expectations:

1. Are better at using coping skills to solve problems.
2. Are less likely to give up.
3. Stay focused on solving the problem; not worrying about it.
4. May have less of a physiological triggered stress reaction.
5. May have better exercise habits.

The study’s authors indicate a need to examine these hypotheses in more detail.

They leave open the question as to whether it is possible to change a person's attitude thorough education, training and counseling in a way that improves long term heart health, saying: “Changing adult behaviors is much harder to do than it sounds.”

This study began with a pre-assessment of attitude toward heart health recovery.  It did not try to teach patients how to improve their “Optimism Stamina” or how to learn to become a “Skilled Optimist.”

I have said over and over that moving from pessimism into optimism is hard and challenging work.  The study leaves open the question as to whether heart health outcomes can be improved with attitude training and practice, or whether we are left with just telling patients the good or bad news like we report a cholesterol level as normal or abnormal:

• Good News: “Since your attitude survey scores you as optimistic, you will likely live longer." 
• Bad News: “Since your attitude survey scores you as pessimistic, your long term survival outlook is poor.”

I am sure that both the optimist and the pessimist would respond, in character, to such information by saying: “You’re not telling me anything I didn’t already know.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, we do not have an “attitude adjustment pill” to prescribe, but I’m not ready to throw in the towel on an RX for attitude training, are you?

Let's Nominate February for "National Do-Over Awareness Month"

By Dr. Russ

Despite the fact that February has Valentine's Day, President’s Day and the Super Bowl, the February Funkies are hard to beat.  So here is another idea to beat the winter blues.  Let’s make February a special month to focus on the optimism skill of the “do-over.”

The winter doldrums get us down enough, so let’s not make setbacks and mistakes make it worse.  Instead of focusing on or berating yourself with a setback or mistake DO a DO-OVER.  Take the whole month of February to practice your Do-Over skills. 

A Do-Over occurs after a mistake, failure, or setback.  The Do-Over Skill has three components or sub-skills.

Sub-skill – 1:

• The thought full of excitement: “I didn’t fail or make a mistake, I just gave myself a chance for a “Do-Over.”

Sub-Skill – 2:

• A reflection on, identification of, and planning for exactly what you want to improve.

 Sub-Skill – 3:

• Practice the improvements until you have them mastered.

 THEN – LET IT ALL OUT and DO THE DO-OVER

STILL DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT - DO IT OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN - REJOICE IN THE SHEER FUN OF THE DO-OVER!!!!!!!!

FINALLY, WHEN YOU GET IT RIGHT - KEEP DOIN' THE DO-OVER . . .

Every day presents each of us with many moments that have the opportunity for a “do over.”  So when you face a momentary setback, instead of getting frustrated, giving up, throwing in the towel, THINK – “time for a “DO-OVER.”

Every day is filled with the opportunity of “DO-OVER” moments.  Here are a few examples.

1. A Super bowl loss brings the chance to try again, next year.
2. A Super bowl win brings the chance to do-it-over again, next year.
3. Forgot to get milk?  You now have a chance to teach yourself how not to forget the milk again.  Go back to the place you were just before you would have headed to the store to get the milk. Now “do-it-over” the right way.
4. Faucet still leaks?  Now you get a chance to learn even more about how to fix a faucet as you try it again.
5. Book proposal rejected?  You get the opportunity to re-write it and make it better; or re-submit it elsewhere and find someone who likes your work.
6. Sales pitch rejected?  You get the chance to refine it and make it more appealing.
7. Spilled milk? You get the chance to move about, wipe the counter clean and pour a fresh glass.  Out of milk? Fill it up with cool, clear water.
8. Rejected when you ask her or him on a date?  You get a chance to try to ask someone else out, or to polish your pitch and try again with the same person.
9. Failed a test or a course? Take it over.  You probably learned more than you thought.  Now you have a foundation to learn more and even excel in learning the material.
10. Fell down trying to learn to ice skate or ski?  Get back up and try again!  The more you fall and get back up and try again, the more you learn.

When you get to March you will find that your "do-over" skills have become pretty automatic, but you may need a March DO-OVER Maintenance Program.

Make a comment and let us know how you are coming with your DO-OVER practice sessions.

What is Optimism? Where can it be Found?

By Dr. Russ and Jackie Monroe,

Optimism! Wherever we go everyone tells us: “We need more of that!”

Where can optimism be found?  Fourteen million New York City subway riders can find it on the back of a Metro Card that has an originally designed graphic of the word ‘OPTIMISM.’  Michael Grynbaum, New York Times, has written: “Optimism is a scarce commodity in a city where unemployment is at a 16 year high.”

Can optimism be gotten for free?  The answer is yes and no.  No. Once you find optimism you do not have to pay for it.  Yes. The cost of finding it takes effort, and quite often “blood, sweat and tears.”

Does hope count as optimism?  Partially. Hope is an essential component of optimism, but it is not the same. Hope is the dream, it lays out the goal and long range target, and gets us started walking down the road of optimism.  Hope embodies the thought of desired outcomes such as good health, peace on earth, happiness, a six figure income, or an increase in the stock market.

Optimism provides the path and action plan to make the dream a reality.  Optimism provides the resilience needed to deal with reality.  Optimism provides the courage, motivation and persistence needed to keep going in the face of incredible odds, major and minor setbacks, failure after failure, and the wisdom to recognize opportunity in every negative event.

Perhaps we can find optimism in a song.  In 1949, Bing Crosby sang, “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.  If you are looking for more optimism you are likely a “tweener.”  You are pessimistic sometimes, optimistic sometimes, and somewhere in-between most of the time.

Is it possible to find optimism in each and every moment of every day?  We believe it is, but it will take a great deal of work and practice.  Optimism is a skill that must and can be learned.  We, the so called optimists, learn something new about optimism every day.  Learning to be a “skilled optimist” requires the kind of training and mentoring equivalent to becoming a master plumber, electrician, violin maker, or web master.

If you happened to grow up with parents who were good at teaching and mentoring optimism, you were born into a family of “skilled optimists.” Your “skilled optimism” apprenticeship started the day you were born.  But, most of you grew up in a family of “optimism-pessimism tweeners” and you are the ones searching for more optimism especially in these tough times.

If you are a self-identified “tweener” this blog is for you.  But, you have to be prepared to believe in yourself.  Are you prepared to “sweat out the tough stuff,” stay in the game despite setbacks and tough going, and persist to overcome expected and unexpected obstacles?  Are you ready to turn in your “Optimism Metro Card” for a free “Buss” transfer pass and ride the “Dr. Russ Buss” down the path of OPTIMISM.  At each stop (daily blog entry), you will have the opportunity to build, develop and improve your skills of optimism.

So get on board the Dr. Russ Buss.  More importantly invite all your friends and family to get a FREE OPTIMISM BUSS pass by sending them an e-mail link to the Moment-to-Moment Optimism blog.  Join in the fun of spreading your optimism and making it GO VIRAL!!!