I think in most cases it's easiest to see the glass half full for everyone but yourself. When you're thinking about yourself, your view is usually obstructed by... yourself. What actually happens to you is what you tell yourself happens to you. You have a choice in how you react to what happens to you.
For example, if you're a Yankees fan you probably know that arguably their best player; Aaron Judge, has been injured for the past month and may not be back by the end of the regular season. If you're wondering how they will be able to replace him, the glass is half empty.
Instead of worrying about something that; for the time being, is written in stone, a glass half-full person would wonder which young, untested prospect could prove themselves in his absence. Perhaps they could deepen their roster even more.
If your boss decides to give you Friday off to have a longer Labor Day weekend, perhaps it would be awesome for you to take advantage of. Or perhaps you realize that August is coming to a close and you need to make your #'s. Maybe that day off wouldn't be so good.
Which thought process is correct?
My answer may surprise you:
It doesn't matter.
The real question is: how much does that glass weigh? How much is it weighing on you? It's irrelevant whether the glass is half full or half empty.
What happens to you is how you feel about what happens, which is a choice. Think of something you're upset about right now, decide whether you chose to be upset or if it was out of your control.
Most of the things we get upset over are things we choose to get upset over. In actuality, you have a choice here.
In a time where stress and anxiety is one of the world's biggest killers, I strongly suggest you start thinking about how you manage and monitor them.
If you're trying to unwind this Labor Day Weekend; and I strongly suggest you try, here are five of my favorite "Unplugged" podcasts you could check out:
1. Eli Manning and I spoke leading up to this upcoming football season. (Listen)
2. Bernie Williams just came to Steiner HQ on Tuesday and provided insights on transitioning from an athlete into a musician. (Listen)
3. Jon Gordon spoke me with about his latest best-selling book, "The Power of a Positive Team" (Listen)
4. Entertainer/Entrepreneur Jon Taffer and I spoke about how to transform a business. (Listen)
5. David Wright talked about his career and just how much he wants to return to the Mets just a few months ago. Now, he's almost ready to return. (Listen)
Have a great long weekend!
I’m appreciate getting emails, like this one, from you. After reading Crosbys’ reflections upon is high school and college years, I was left with just one word: “Wow”. What he seems to have grasped at a very young age usually takes one a lifetime, if at all, to figure out. I’m a high school guidance counselor in White Plains, and the things he articulated are the things I try to instill in the students with whom I work. Unfortunately, very few “get it”. However, I believe it is like most things, in that one must figure it out on their own as learning only occurs when one is ready to learn. I am going to print and save this email to show to my kids (currently ages 7 and 6) when they enter high school. Hopefully they will “get it” or at least be ready to learn.