The Optimist OS
A Structured Approach to a More Positive Life
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Not long ago, I was taking a trip with my wife and kids, when I saw an interesting sticker on the outside of the hotel where we were staying.
It was the logo of an organization called Optimist International, but nothing else.
I was intrigued.
When I looked up the organization, I found the following list of principles, which they call The Optimist Creed, which you can view in full below:
Promise Yourself:
- To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
- To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
- To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
- To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
- To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
- To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
- To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
- To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
- To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
- To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
The creed originated with the writing of Christian D. Larson — one of a group of early 20th century American personal growth/spirituality writers. It sets forth a way of looking at the world and tackling each day that pushes one toward positive things, rather than negative ones.
It’s not a doctrine of escapism from or ignorance to the bad things in life. Rather, it’s a reminder that after you feel the pain, sorrow, exhaustion, fear — or whatever the negative emotions of the day are — you choose to think and act in a constructive and positive way.