Diamyn Hall | The O.D.C.M. | Principle 1: Perspective & Relentless Optimism

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PRINCIPLE 1 - PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING. BE RELENTLESSLY OPTIMISTIC.

Your outlook determines your outcomes.

Your attitude determines your actions.

Your perspective drives performance (in work & life). 

It determines how you view everything you encounter. 

Therefore, it makes sense to be relentlessly optimistic.

Personally, I believe it’s the best gift you can give to yourself in the game of life. 

• "Hunt the good stuff"

People fight me on this because they say optimism is the denial of reality.

I disagree. Optimism is not the denial of reality...

Let's break down the word optimism.

The root word of "optimism" = optimum, which is a Latin word meaning "best".

Here's a breakdown of the meaning:

• Optimum =  best, most favorable
• -ism = suffix indicating a state of belief

Therefore, "optimism" literally translates to "a belief in the best". This meaning includes 3 things.

1. Disposition - Tendency to look on the bright side of things and expect positive outcomes.
2. Belief - Conviction that good things will ultimately prevail.
3. Expectation - Anticipation of favorable results and successful outcomes.

Optimism is the belief that good can be found in any state of reality.

• Research also tells me that optimism is the one quality associated with success and happiness more than any other.

PERSPECTIVE SHIFTING EXERCISE - PART 1

May I walk you through a perspective shifting exercise?

It's a 3 part exercise that has the power to change your life for the rest of your life (if you allow it).

The only way it will work is if you go all in!

Are you ready?

In a few seconds

I'm going to show you a list of 24 words...

I want you to allow your “knee jerk” reactions to rise to the surface.

Including your:

1. Initial word associations,
2. Initial thoughts,
3. Initial emotions,
4. Initial bodily reactions…

For each word, jot those 4 things down...

Are you ready?

Here we go...

1. Problems
2. Pain
3. Challenges
4. Obstacles
5. Adversity
6. Mistakes
7. Losses
8. Failure
9. Difficulties
10. Struggles
11. Setbacks
12. Trails
13. Downfalls
14. Disappointments
15. Tough Times
16. Doubts
17. Fear
18. Discomfort
19. Risks
20. Jealousy
21. Envy
22. Rejection
23. Stress
24. Pressure

What came up for you? What did you find?

1. What word associations came to mind?
2. What initial thoughts came to mind?
3. What initial emotions came up?
4. What initial bodily reactions came up?

Take note of those things because it will matter soon...

When I was young, I learned that there are two groups of people in the world:

Group 1 - People who believe life happens TO THEM.

• This group of people are pessimists.
• They are addicted to finding the worst in everything & pointing fingers.
• They believe they are the victims of their circumstances.
• This group makes up 95% of the population.

Group 2 - People who believe life happens FOR THEM.

• This group of people are considered optimists.
• They are addicted to finding the good in everything & taking ownership.
• They believe they are the creators of their circumstances.
• This group makes up only 5% of the population.

At any moment in time you can make the decision to join the second group.

But beware, your quality of life will improve drastically!

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.” - Noam Chomsky

The game of life is all about perspective...

PERSPECTIVE SHIFTING EXERCISE - PART 2

In a few seconds

I’m going to show you the same list of 24 words...

• Only this time I’m going to share with you the words that I associate with each.

Feel free to explore what new thoughts, new emotions, new bodily reactions come up for you as if this list is your own...

1. Problems = Possibilities
2. Pain = Power
3. Challenges = Changers
4. Obstacles = Opportunities
5. Adversity = Advantage
6. Mistakes = Motivation
7. Losses = Lessons
8. Failure = Feedback
9. Difficulties = Durability
10. Struggles = Strength
11. Setbacks = Setups
12. Trails = Training
13. Downfalls = Determination
14. Disappointments = Drivers
15. Tough Times = Tenacity Builders
16. Doubts = Discovery
17. Fear = Fuel
18. Discomfort = Development
19. Risks = Rewards
20. Jealousy = Justification
21. Envy = Evolution
22. Rejection = Redirection
23. Stress = Self-Optimization
24. Pressure = Privilege

What's coming up for you right now?

The meanings you associate determine your experiences.

“Imagine acquiring a new language and only learning the words to describe a wonderful world, refusing to know the words for a bleak one and in doing so linguistically shaping the world that you inhabit.” ― Rosamund Lupton

Here’s what I've learned about perspective and optimism:

1. Perspective drives interpretation.
2. Perspective frames truth.
3. Perspective sculpts identity.
4. Perspective constructs beliefs.
5. Perspective influences attitude.
6. Perspective drives behavior.
7. Optimism is essential to all growth, progress, & achievement.
8. Optimism is a skill to be practiced and mastered. It's the art of being firmly planted in reality & being willing to look at the hard, scary, and uncertain things squarely in the eye. Yet at the same time consistently finding a way to see the good in everything.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”― Winston S. Churchill

PERSPECTIVE SHIFTING EXERCISE - PART 3

In a few seconds

I’m going to show you the same list of 24 words.

Only this time I'll share with you how I frame each of them in more detail.

Take note of which of these you'd like to adopt from now on & why.

1. Problems = Possibilities

• Within every problem lies a hidden possibility, waiting to be discovered. You just have to be willing to look for them.

2. Pain = Power

• All pain you experience possesses potential power. Harness the power of your pain, let it push you & drive you to overcome.

3. Challenges = Changers

• If it doesn’t challenge you, then it wont change you. Embrace the challenges, for they are the pathways to your transformation.

4. Obstacles = Opportunities

• Embrace obstacles, for each obstacle is an opportunity to grow & step into your greatness.

5. Adversity = Advantage

• Adversity is your greatest advantage in the game of life, let it forge you into who you were meant to be. 

6. Mistakes = Motivation

• Mistakes are stepping stones of motivation to become more. Providing you with the opportunity to reflect in order to rise.

7. Losses = Lessons

• Every loss holds a special lesson. You just having to be willing to study it, extract it, & apply it.

8. Failure = Feedback

• Failure is never final. In fact, it's feedback. A roadmap to guide you to refine your path towards success. Failure is the ultimate feedback.

9. Difficulties = Durability

• Difficulties develop durability, granting you the resilience needed to endure life's storms.

10. Struggles = Strength

• The struggles you face today are developing the strength you will need for tomorrow. Each struggle is shaping you into a stronger version of yourself.

11. Setbacks = Setups

• Setbacks are strategic setups. They lay the foundation for future successes. Use them as stepping stones to reach new heights.

12. Trials = Training

• Trials serve as the training to fortify your character & wisdom.

13. Downfalls = Determination

• Every downfall provides you with a spark of determination, providing you power to rise again - only stronger than before.

14. Disappointments = Drivers

• Every disappointment must serve as a key driver to continue finding ways to be more, do more, & give more.

15. Tough Times = Tenacity

• Tough times are the true builders of tenacity. Embrace & endure the tough times, and you will emerge with a greater sense of self & a deeper appreciation for the good times.

16. Doubts = Discovery

• Your doubts are the catalysts for self-discovery, learning, & maturity. They are the ultimate invitation to explore, challenge, & conquer.

17. Fear = Fuel

• Let your fear be the fuel that propels you forward towards your dreams. Fear is not a deterrent. Instead it's a signal...A call to action.

18. Discomfort = Development

• Discomfort is a sign of growth & development, a signal that you are expanding beyond your limitations. Embrace the discomfort, for it is the price of progress, the pathway to development. All magic happens outside of your comfort zone.

19. Risks = Rewards

• Risks are not gambles; they're the gateways to rewards. Without risks, the treasures that are meant for you will remain undiscovered. Without risks, there are no rewards. The most risky thing you can do in life is keep playing it safe. Be willing to take risks, for they are the seeds of extraordinary achievement.

20. Jealousy = Justification

• When you experience jealousy from others, it is justification and affirmation that you are building and doing things of profound significance. It's a testament to your progress, a confirmation that you are on the right path.

21. Envy = Evolution

• When people envy you it means you're evolving. It means you’re doing something worth envying. It means you are killing off the version of yourself who they used to know. It means you are inspiring them, motivating them to reach their full potential.

22. Rejection = Redirection

• Rejection is not a roadblock, it's a redirection. It points you towards a path more suited for you. When one door closes another one opens. Every "no" brings you closer to your ultimate "yes." Keep going!

23. Stress = Self-Optimization

• Stress is not a burden, it's a catalyst for self-optimization. It's the same pressure that shapes diamonds from coal. No stress, no growth. No pressure, no diamonds.

24. Pressure = Privilege 

• Pressure is a privilege. Pressure shows you who you are. Pressure shows you who you are not. Pressure shows you who you have the potential to become

Ultimately...

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Dr. Wayne Dyer

• It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”― Dalai Lama XIV

• All in all, relentless optimism is one of the most powerful thinking styles available to mankind. Adopt it. Use it. Spread it.

🔜 NEXT WEEK - We'll dive into the next digestible piece of The One Day Contract Mentality (O.D.C.M)...THE PERSPECTIVE SHIFTING PRINCIPLE: PRESSURE IS A PRIVILEGE!

💡 REFLECT - Take a moment to reflect on the insights in this article...

💬 COMMENT - Which numbers resonated with you most?

Until next time,

- Coach Diamyn ♦️