Sarah O'Flaherty's Blog

Ever wondered why we human beings have a strong preference for consistency? It's partly because we couldn't function if we didn't have some sense of certainty about the way things work in our world. For example, when we wake up in the morning we expect to get up and have a floor under our feet, we expect to see clouds in the sky, and for the grass to be green. Imagine a world where we couldn't be certain what we'd see, feel, or experience when we woke up in the morning.  

We also have psychological expectations about the world and the people in our world. Why do we expect our partners to love us tomorrow? Because it's consistent. Because if we didn't we would constantly be worrying about everything and everyone in our life. Consistency is the glue that holds our world together and it helps us to understand the world and our place in it. 

Consistency Theory

Consistency theory states that when our inner systems, our beliefs, attitudes or values, all support one another and are supported by how we behave, then we will feel comfortable and aligned. When the opposite of this is true we experience dissonance.

Cognitive Dissonance

You may have heard of the term cognitive dissonance; it's the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioural decisions and attitude change. For example, when people smoke (behaviour) and they know that smoking causes cancer (cognition), they are in a state of cognitive dissonance. Or, when a person commits to doing one thing and then do something else, they will experience dissonance.

Dissonance causes discomfort and confusion. Things are not as we expected them to be, and so we want to figure out what we missed. Dissonance arises from inconsistencies, tends to be uncomfortable, and will continue to cause discomfort until it's resolved.

How We Try To Reduce Dissonance

There are many ways that we attempt to achieve consistency between conflicting items. Some of the strategies people use include:

Rationalisation/making excuses: 'It was going to happen anyway.'
Transcendence: 'Nobody is perfect.'
Denial/ignoring: 'I didn't see it happen.'
Things will be different next time: 'I'll be more careful next time.'

However, while these strategies may work in the short-term, we will continue to have dissonance until there is true consistency between our thoughts/beliefs/values and our behaviour.

So, if you say you're going to meet with a friend on Saturday and then don't turn up, and, you also believe that one of your values is respect and that you respect other people and their time, then you are going to start dealing with dissonance. You might say to yourself, "it's okay, nobody's perfect." And, sure we're all human and make mistakes, but if you do the same thing to that or another friend the following weekend, then, while you can again say, "it's okay, nobody is perfect" you're not acting with any kind of consistency. Unless you change your behaviour and start keeping your commitments, thus showing that you do respect other people and their time, then you are acting inconsistently toward others which will have an impact on how you are perceived by others. Additionally, you are being inconsistent with yourself which will likely result in lower self-esteem and increased dissonance.

It becomes easier to be consistent when we are clear on what our values are. Values are those things that you believe are important to the way you operate in the world. They help you to determine your priorities. You can consider them the signposts that provide direction for your life.

Examples Of Consistency

There are many benefits to being consistent. A good way to think about it is to consider the success of brands that have been consistent over time. Let's use a global example, Coca-Cola or Coke. What do you think of when you think of Coke? Most likely you'll think; red, soft-drink, America, socialising/friends. If you decide to buy a coke, you know that no matter where you are in the world it will taste pretty much the same. Coke's brand consistency over many years has made it the third most valuable brand in the world. 

Then think of yourself, how do you want others to see you? Do you think people know that they can rely on you to be a certain way? Consider how you feel about the people you know that are consistent and reliable, are those the people that you trust? How do you feel about those people that you know that are inconsistent? Do you trust and respect those people?

Please don't consider these ideas to be completely black or white. Of course, we're all human and we make mistakes sometimes, we change our minds, we're all constantly growing and evolving, but when we're living based on our values we're overall generally consistent. And when we are acting in ways that are consistent with our thoughts/beliefs/values we tend to feel more content, satisfied, and have healthier self-esteem. Which, I'm guessing, is how we'd all like to feel most of the time. I know that's what I aim for in my life. 

  

We can provide you with a  free list of values  or think about doing our simplify your life online course. 

 

Professional counselling offers many life-enhancing benefits including helping you to identify your values. I am happy to discuss your needs before starting the therapy process, just email or phone (contact details provided in the link through).

 

 

 

Thank you is the current conventional expression of gratitude. When someone offers us their seat on a bus, we might acknowledge their generosity with a thank you. When we ask a friend to help us with some information, we say thank you for their assistance and to acknowledge we have received the information they provided us. 

Thank you and its use or lack of use have been top-of-mind for me lately. I believe thank you is a very important phrase and I'll outline why below. I've also been wondering why it feels like use of the phrase thank you is declining and considering whether the way we're communicating on social media is influencing the change.

But first, where does the phrase thank you come from?  

 

The origins of thank you

The phrase thank you derives originally from the word think. In this early form, it meant I will remember what you did for me. From there it progressed to a more favourable thought or feeling which could be paraphrased to "for what you have done for me, I think on you favourably." In some instances, thank you has indicated a debt owed. For example, in Portuguese Obrigado means "much obliged" and can be interpreted as "I am in your debt."

The habit of saying thank you is fairly new and first began to take hold during the commercial revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During this time the middle classes began using the phrase regularly until it became the social norm. And so, its development arose from a philosophy, a set of assumptions of what humans are and what they owe each other, and has now become so deeply ingrained into our culture that perhaps we are not even aware of the rationale behind its use and why it's important.

 

The importance of thank you

Reviewing the literature, it appears that thank you is important to people in many different ways. Thank you is an appreciation of a person choosing to take a certain action versus having to be told to take an action. It is an acknowledgement of our free-will, an appreciation of our freedom of choice.

Saying thank you has been proven to build social relationships and trust. This premise is based on the find-remind-and-bind theory of gratitude, proposed by US psychologist Sarah Algoe, from the University of North Carolina. According to this theory, thanks prompts:

the initiation of new social relationships (a find function)
orients people to existing social relationships (a remind function)
promotes maintenance of, and investment in, these relationships (a bind function)

Saying thank you allows people to feel appreciated and loved. Have you noticed how you feel when someone genuinely thanks you and you are able to accept that thank you fully? It's a great feeling for the giver of the thank you and the receiver too. 

Being appreciated is one of the things that motivates us. When we are thanked for doing something we feel good, and because we've been rewarded for our action it's more likely that we'll act the same way again in the future.

Saying thank you allows us to feel genuine gratitude and to pass that gratitude on to another. It is a recognition of our common humanity. You are sharing a little bit of your heart with another person and so that person receives a gift from you. 

Saying thank you can change someone's life. Just like a simple smile can make someone's day, a thank you can have a similar positive impact. By saying thank you and meaning it, you could turn someone's bad day into a good one, and who knows how things will go from there. 

 

Are we saying thank you less?

While saying thank you is something we are taught from childhood and a phrase we may think we are using frequently, it turns out that human beings say thank you far less often than we might think.

A new study of everyday language use around the world has found that, in informal settings, people almost always complied with requests for an object, service or help. For their efforts, they received expressions of gratitude only rarely — in about one of 20 occasions.

While this might seem like a damning verdict on human nature or evidence of a global pandemic of rudeness. There is another perspective considered by the study; that this finding indicates that our basic stance is one of reciprocity, that when we ask people to help us, their default is that they will. However, the author of the study also indicates that saying thank you is important and something we should continue to teach our children. 

 

Summary

So it seems we are saying thank you less than we think we are, something to consider. And, because thank you is an important phrase to use for many reasons including that it makes people feel good and strengthens our social connections, I would like to propose that you commit to saying thank you a little more often.

Let me get the ball rolling, thank you for taking the time to read this article.  

 

 

One thing that's bound to cause stress and anxiety is overthinking or what is known as rumination. Rumination occurs when we repeatedly think about events from our past, or when we dwell on difficulties or things that have caused us stress, or when we become preoccupied with something and can't seem to get that something out of our mind. 

Rumination is normal, we all repeatedly think about things. And thinking in depth about our problems can be helpful, especially if we end up reaching a solution and are able to put that solution into action. However, it is excessive thinking that can make rumination unhelpful. Rumination is also unhelpful when it focuses on the causes and consequences instead of the solution. For example, when we think "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did this happen to me?" instead of "What can I do to resolve this situation?" Unhelpful rumination focuses on what has gone wrong and so can lead to further negative thinking. Ongoing rumination can lead to depression, and it is often linked to procrastination and the avoidance of problem-solving. 

So, how can we address rumination? The first step is to notice that we're doing it. A great way to improve our awareness of rumination is to develop our mindfulness skills. Check out this little mindfulness video to see how mindfulness can empower us. 

Another way to address rumination is to notice what you're thinking about and start focusing on working toward a solution. You might begin by using how questions. For example, "How can I get out of this situation?" or "How can I make this situation better?"

Sometimes you might notice a theme emerging in your thinking. Such as, "I'm not good enough" or "I don't fit in" or "I can't do this on my own." If this is the case, you may be dealing with a strong belief or schema that developed when you were young. If this is the case, I recommend reading Reinventing Your Life by Jeffrey Young and Janet Klosko and/or considering working on these thinking patterns with a therapist. 

 

Mindfulness and meditation are wonderful tools for dealing with rumination. Check out our meditation and mindfulness handouts. Or consider getting some assistance to get started with meditation. You might also like to consider our online course - Boost Your Resilience - to help you to deal with stress and learn some relaxation strategies. 

 

One thing that's bound to cause stress and anxiety is overthinking or what is known as rumination. Rumination occurs when we repeatedly think about events from our past, or when we dwell on difficulties or things that have caused us stress, or when we become preoccupied with something and can't seem to get that something out of our mind. 

Rumination is normal, we all repeatedly think about things. And thinking in depth about our problems can be helpful, especially if we end up reaching a solution and are able to put that solution into action. However, it is excessive thinking that can make rumination unhelpful. Rumination is also unhelpful when it focuses on the causes and consequences instead of the solution. For example, when we think "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did this happen to me?" instead of "What can I do to resolve this situation?" Unhelpful rumination focuses on what has gone wrong and so can lead to further negative thinking. Ongoing rumination can lead to depression, and it is often linked to procrastination and the avoidance of problem-solving. 

So, how can we address rumination? The first step is to notice that we're doing it. A great way to improve our awareness of rumination is to develop our mindfulness skills. Check out this little mindfulness video to see how mindfulness can empower us. 

Another way to address rumination is to notice what you're thinking about and start focusing on working toward a solution. You might begin by using how questions. For example, "How can I get out of this situation?" or "How can I make this situation better?"

Sometimes you might notice a theme emerging in your thinking. Such as, "I'm not good enough" or "I don't fit in" or "I can't do this on my own." If this is the case, you may be dealing with a strong belief or schema that developed when you were young. If this is the case, I recommend reading Reinventing Your Life by Jeffrey Young and Janet Klosko and/or considering working on these thinking patterns with a therapist. 

 

Mindfulness and meditation are wonderful tools for dealing with rumination. Check out our meditation and mindfulness handouts. Or consider getting some assistance to get started with meditation. You might also like to consider our online course - Boost Your Resilience - to help you to deal with stress and learn some relaxation strategies. 

 

Procrastination can be defined as follows, "to voluntarily delay an intended course of action despite expecting to be worse off for the delay.”

It doesn't sound too good, so why do we do it? 

For many reasons:

It may be due to our feelings - we may be anxious, depressed, feeling overwhelmed, shamed, and/or frustrated due to having to do something we don't want to do. 
It may be due to a fear of failure or a fear of success. 
It can be due to rumination - thinking ourselves out of action.
It is often linked to personality. If you have any of these personality traits you may be at higher risk of procrastinating - low conscientiousness, perfectionism, low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, low self-efficacy for self-regulation
It can also be due to lacking some relevant skills, such as being poor at time management, not setting goals, etc. 


How can I overcome it?

The first step is to gain clarity as to exactly what tasks or goals need to be done. Write a ‘To Do’ list of tasks and goals you need to work on. Prioritise the list of tasks. “Chunk” each task into smaller bite-size pieces, and then estimate the time needed for each part of the process. 

To follow are some great anti-procrastination strategies. Choose a couple that you think will suit you and give them a try. 

Eat That Frog: Also known as doing the worst task first. If you do the task you consider to be the most difficult first, then all your following tasks will appear easy by comparison.

Fast Five: Plan to spend only five minutes on a task (or you can make it ten minutes). Because five minutes is a small amount of time it makes the task appear relatively easy to do. And usually, once you get started doing something you were avoiding, you'll keep at it. 

Best Place: Find the best location or best type of environment that allows you to be most productive or creative. For some people, it will be somewhere quiet and isolated. For me, I find working in a rowdy cafe great for my focus and energy. Find what works best for you. 

Best Time: Determine what time of day you are the most productive or energised or focused. Use this time to do the tasks you find the most challenging or where you need the most mental energy. 

Work-Break-Work: This is the tool I use when studying for exams. I set 50 minutes to study and then have a 10-minute break where I get up, move around, and do something different. And then I hit the books again for another 50 minutes. I find this strategy keeps me energised and focused for most of the day. 

Take a Break: Make sure that you take a break away from work or study at times. Often, if you allow yourself a proper break, then when you go back to the task at hand you'll have the mental energy to throw at it. A proper break may be a walk outside, doing a breathing exercise, or doing some meditation. Again, choose what you think will work best for you. 

Reward Yourself: Planning a reward for yourself at the completion of a difficult task can sometimes be just the trick to keep you focused and working on that task through to completion. Sometimes we procrastinate because we feel like we're missing out on something, but if we have a reward planned that feeling may dissipate. 

 

Mindfulness and meditation are wonderful tools for dealing with procrastination. Check out our meditation and mindfulness handouts. Or consider getting some assistance to get started with meditation. You might also like to consider our online course - Simplify Your Life - to assist with clearing away any distractions. 

 

 

 

Have you ever thought about why you love writing? For me, I think it’s a fantastic career. There certainly aren’t too many jobs out there that offer so much choice. As a writer, you can work from anywhere in the world, you decide when you write and what you write about, and you get to decide for how many hours a day you work. Altogether, these factors generally encourage a healthy empowered individual, who is, for the most part; creatively free and inspired, not having to deal with difficult bosses or co-workers, and not feeling trapped in a job they hate. However, while those are wonderful benefits, did you also know that whether you’re writing as a career or not, the act of writing itself has a multitude of benefits?

 

WHY DO WE WRITE? 

Let’s begin with why we tell stories and where our motivation to write comes from. From a psychological perspective, we know that human beings are constantly seeking to understand the world around them. For example, if we hear a loud noise we want to know what it is or if we’re involved in a car accident we want to understand why it happened. Once we understand how or why an event occurred we are more prepared to deal with it if it ever happens again. It’s all part of our survival instinct; being prepared allows us to survive in a chaotic and unpredictable world.

 

Writing a story and the process of developing a narrative deepens our understanding of both our experiences and how we relate to those experiences. The construction of a narrative organises the chain of events into a form that makes sense to us, while also integrating our thoughts and feelings into the storyline. A good narrative makes a complex situation easier to understand and process. We seek simplicity because once a scenario is simplified our mind doesn’t have to work so hard to provide it with meaning. Constructing stories gives us a sense of predictability and control over our lives, and allows us to get a sense of resolution to a given situation, resulting in less rumination and negative thinking.1

 

THE BENEFIT OF SELF-EXPRESSION

Another benefit of writing comes through its impact on our self-expression (the expression of our thoughts and feelings). Self-expression comes in many different forms, both verbal and non-verbal, and is often expressed through artistic activities. While many consider any form of self-expression to be beneficial, it has been found, when comparing writing to other artistic endeavours, that the translation of experiences into language is what increases the likelihood of long-term positive physiological change.

 

And wait, there are even more benefits, writing can improve both our physical and mental health. Just a few of these benefits include improvements in mood, stress levels, and depressive symptoms. Not a bad start and the great news is that these benefits are not influenced by the quality of your writing. So, whether you’re a good or a bad writer, you could still receive these positive outcomes.

 

IMPACTS OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

Okay, all this sounds great, but how can I make such bold claims? Well, luckily, I like to ensure that what I say matches with what the science is saying, so let me show you how these benefits are real and that they are backed by scientific studies. In 2005, a study on the emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing found that just 15 to 20 minutes of writing three to five times over four months was enough to make a positive difference.2 Another study, by King (2001), included 81 graduates who wrote about one of four topics for 20 minutes each day for four consecutive days.3 Three of the four topics were emotional, such as writing about a past trauma or writing about a best possible future self, and one topic was a non-emotional control. Five months after this experiment had been completed, results indicated that those participants who wrote about emotional topics had less illness when compared to the control group. And interestingly, when this experiment was replicated and the writing time was reduced to only two minutes each day for two days, the emotional topic writers continued to report fewer health complaints than those in the control condition.4

 

Further, writing has been found to influence more than just visits to the doctor. Writing impacts our immune system, with four different studies reporting that writing produces positive effects on the blood markers of immune function.5 And recent studies have shown that expressive writing reduces pain and fatigue and improves the well-being in women with fibromyalgia,6 can reduce the viral load in HIV-infected adults,7 and can produce lower evaluations of pain intensity in chronic pain clients.8 Those are some serious health issues being positively impacted by expressive writing, indicating it’s strong effect.

 

So, let’s wrap up. Writing can improve our physical well-being in many ways, including enhancing our immune system. Our mental state can be improved by writing due to improvement in mood and the reduced likelihood of negative rumination. Writing allows us to have a sense of predictability and control over our lives. And writing is an important form of self-expression. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved writing and thought it was beneficial, but I also find it helpful to understand some of the rationales and to know that there is some science backing up my beliefs.  

 

If you enjoyed this article, then you might also enjoy writing advice - how to get started in self-publishing or you might like to check out messy minds - how to tap into your creative spirit. 

And if you need support developing your creative capacity, consider seeing me for some creativity boosting sessions. I am happy to discuss your needs before we work together, just email or phone (contact details provided in the link through). 

 

 

 

 References:

Pennebaker, J. W. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(10), 1243-1254.

Baikie, K., & Wilhelm, K. (2005). Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment,11(5), 338-346. doi:10.1192/apt.11.5.338
King, L. A. (2001). The Health Benefits of Writing about Life Goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(7), 798-807. doi:10.1177/0146167201277003
Burton, C. M., & King, L. A. (2008). Effects of (very) brief writing on health: The two-minute miracle. British Journal of Health Psychology, 13(1), 9-14.

Pennebaker, J. W. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(10), 1243-1254. 


Broderick, J. E., Junghaenel, D. U., & Schwartz, J. E. (2005). Written emotional expression produces health benefits in fibromyalgia patients. Psychosomatic medicine, 67(2), 326-334.

Petrie, K. J., Fontanilla, I., Thomas, M. G., Booth, R. J., & Pennebaker, J. W. (2004). Effect of written emotional expression on immune function in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: A randomized trial. Psychosomatic medicine, 66(2), 272-275.

Norman, S. A., Lumley, M. A., Dooley, J. A., & Diamond, M. P. (2004). For whom does it work? Moderators of the effects of written emotional disclosure in a randomized trial among women with chronic pelvic pain. Psychosomatic medicine, 66(2), 174-183.

Pennebaker, J. W. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(10), 1243-1254.

 

 

 

We are all affected by change at some stage in our life. Change is the one thing in life that is predictable - there will always be changes and nothing ever stays the same. In psychology, we often talk about the six stages of change and try to identify what stage our clients are in when they are considering making some form of adjustment to their life. Once we know what stage someone is in, this information can help us to understand what needs to be focused on to assist them in progressing toward their desired goal. 

 

Here are the six stages:

1. Precontemplation - no intention of making a change.

2. Contemplation - aware a problem exists, however, no current commitment to action. 

3. Preparation - intention to take action. 

4. Action - active modification of behaviour.

5. Maintenance - sustained behaviour replaces old behaviour.

6. Relapse - fall back into old patterns of behaviour. 

 

These stages can be simplified even further to:

1. Not worried.

2. Thinking.

3. Trying.

4. Doing.

5. Sticking to it.

6. Ooops. Learning.

 

When you think about a big life goal that you would like to achieve, what stage do you think you're in?

 

You may also enjoy reading the hero's journey - inspiration for change or you may be interested in some help in changing career. 

 

"None of us are perfect. Let us not pretend that we are. Let us not be afraid that we're not. Let us not label others and pretend we are not the same. Let us all know that to be human is to be flawed, and let us learn from every mistake made so that we don't make them again."

Cecelia Ahern, author of Flawed

I've been super inspired by a book I've just finished reading, Flawed by Cecelia Ahern. It's about a dystopian society where, as well as a criminal justice system, there is also an ethical justice system where those who have done something against the will of society are judged to be flawed. It's a society where it's important to be seen to be perfect and dangerous to make any kind of mistake, including helping those who have already been labelled as flawed. 

Mmm....does this sound a little familiar? I have to admit there were quite a few themes in the story that resonated with me because I see hints of them in our society:

The sense people have that they have to be perfect to be acceptable.
The idea that we can't make mistakes, that mistakes make us less than human. 
The way we label and judge others because of our own insecurities.
The way our world humanises objects, as is done in advertising and dehumanises people.
That compassion is an important key to our humanness. 

I think the important message this book is trying to convey, and with which I totally agree, is that we only learn and grow by making mistakes. Our mistakes and our flaws are our humanity and our uniqueness.

I say that to be flawed is to be truly beautiful, real and authentic. My request to you, go out into the world, do your thing, and know that it's totally okay if you make some mistakes. 

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Please feel free to add some comments. 

 

If you are looking for some more reading, then find out how to be more powerful or get some inspiration from the story of a man who thought long-term rather than short-term. 

 

 

"None of us are perfect. Let us not pretend that we are. Let us not be afraid that we're not. Let us not label others and pretend we are not the same. Let us all know that to be human is to be flawed, and let us learn from every mistake made so that we don't make them again."

Cecelia Ahern, author of Flawed

I've been super inspired by a book I've just finished reading, Flawed by Cecelia Ahern. It's about a dystopian society where, as well as a criminal justice system, there is also an ethical justice system where those who have done something against the will of society are judged to be flawed. It's a society where it's important to be seen to be perfect and dangerous to make any kind of mistake, including helping those who have already been labelled as flawed. 

Mmm....does this sound a little familiar? I have to admit there were quite a few themes in the story that resonated with me because I see hints of them in our society:

The sense people have that they have to be perfect to be acceptable.
The idea that we can't make mistakes, that mistakes make us less than human. 
The way we label and judge others because of our own insecurities.
The way our world humanises objects, as is done in advertising and dehumanises people.
That compassion is an important key to our humanness. 

I think the important message this book is trying to convey, and with which I totally agree, is that we only learn and grow by making mistakes. Our mistakes and our flaws are our humanity and our uniqueness.

I say that to be flawed is to be truly beautiful, real and authentic. My request to you, go out into the world, do your thing, and know that it's totally okay if you make some mistakes. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Please feel free to add some comments. 

 

There is a difference in the way that people approach experiences, challenges, and stressors. Those people who are more optimistic in their outline will tend to expect more positive than negative things to happen to them. Whereas, people who are more pessimistic in their views tend to expect more negative outcomes. 

While there are positives and negatives to both perspectives, there is a large body of research that has shown that optimists, when compared to pessimists, adjust better to difficulties. More specifically, optimists tend to adjust better to stress and exposure to a stressor than pessimists. Optimists have been found to experience less psychological distress and less negative impact on their long-term physical well-being.

Stress and the consequences of stress may arise from how people appraise experiences rather than from the experiences themselves. Optimists tend to have a generalized positive outlook about the future, and this impacts how they appraise and approach stressors. Optimists generally report experiencing less distress during stressor exposure compared to pessimists, and it seems that optimism may have a protective role during exposure to a stressor in that optimism acts as a buffer against the adverse impact of stressful events. To understand the underlying components of why optimists deal with stress better, we will look at their goal engagement and choice of coping strategies.

SELF-FULFILLING PROPHESIES

There are often two options when encountering challenges; engage to overcome the challenge and achieve goals, or disengage to avoid the challenge and give up on the goal. The choice between these two options may depend on whether the desired outcome is perceived to be attainable. Because optimists see positive outcomes as attainable, they are more likely to engage and continue to invest the effort to achieve their desired outcome, rather than give-up or disengage as pessimists tend to do.

Several studies have shown how dispositional optimists persist longer on tasks compared with pessimists, in some cases particularly when self-awareness is high, as awareness tends to highlight one’s own goals. The tendency for optimists to expect positive outcomes and remain engaged in challenges creates a self-fulfilling prophecy because positive outcomes and success have a greater chance of becoming actualized. On the other hand, for pessimists, the tendency to expect negative outcomes and give up on challenges creates a self- fulfilling prophecy of failure.

 

Read more on the different ways to cope with stress and can burnout be prevented or treated?

This is an excerpt from my book Fresh Start: A Guide To Eliminating Unhealthy Stress.