Since I was a child I have been accused of being overly optimistic. I actually won the “Pollyanna Award” in my college freshman dorm. I can honestly say that I wake up most mornings in a good mood and tend to see the positive side of most situations. My sunny outlook is due to the fact that I have trusted God enough to know that no matter how awful a circumstance has been I will make it through the ordeal and be stronger for the experience. Gaining wisdom is a test of faith that can be a brutal process.
My sunny outlook is not always well received and has actually been the subject of ridicule in some work environments. You know the type of organization-one where everyone is expected to be goofing off and taking advantage of the Company. Their motto is “The beatings will continue until morale improves”. If you find yourself in this type of work environment watch out for signs that you are becoming one of the Negative Neds or Nancys assuming the worst of everyone and every initiative.
I see how easily we can let our own perspective be clouded by other people’s negative realities. Have you ever been standing with a group discussing something fairly positive when one Negative Nancy walks up and says, “Do you really believe that?” After a comment like that, just watch how quickly a positive discussion becomes less positive or even worse one filled with suspicion. We all want to be in the know and don’t want to have someone outsmart us, unfortunately this ends up in giving Negative Nancys free rein to impact our perceptions. I remember a time when I was particularly fired up about a situation and was ranting about it when an old friend said to me, “Who stomped on your rose-colored glasses?” It made me laugh out loud and brought me back to my true self that had disappeared behind the negative tirade. Be careful out there and don’t let them stomp on your rose-colored glasses.
Rare Bird Reasoning 