Is the glass half full or half empty?

It is an age-old question: Is the glass half full or is it half empty? I have heard many arguments over which, if either, is the correct answer. Does it depend on what state the glass started from (empty or full)? Would it be more precise to say that it is always full of both water (as in the picture) and air?

All of these perspectives miss the point. Misses. The. Point. Entirely.

It’s not about the water. It’s not even about the air. And it is most certainly not about the glass. The point made is about the attitude and point of view of the viewer. Optimists are people that look on the bright side of life – purposely, naturally or both. Pessimists see negativity, problems, weaknesses.

So why does it matter whether you are an optimist or a pessimist?

In a 1990 Johns Hopkins study of graduate students found that optimists outperform pessimists in all academic programs except one; Law. ( This isn’t terribly surprising but beyond the present scope.)

People who see the glass half full do better than those that don’t see it that way.

The coaching points? Deliberately set your point of view to optimism. Look for the light at the end of the tunnel, the silver lining of the dark cloud, the dawn following the dusk. Purposely look for them. Focus your attention on the destination beyond the challenge and you will soar higher and achieve more.

You will win, because you believe that you will; and are willing to put forth the effort to reach the goal. As Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.”

Tomorrow will be a great, great Friday. I can see it. Can’t you?

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