We love optimism! A key ingredient in resilience, happiness and charisma, it's a positive force propelling us forward. However, it can occasionally cause us to stumble over our own aspirational footprints...
So, what are the downsides of optimism?
▪️ Expecting that you can get twice as much done as is actually possible
▪️ Overscheduling
▪️ Having too many goals
▪️ Setting unrealistic goals
▪️ Holding yourself and others to impossible standards
▪️ Not planning for the unexpected
▪️ Doing everything yourself
▪️ Expecting perfection
Rather than expecting ourselves to constantly do better, be more productive, be better leaders and perfect people, we need to learn from what isn’t working and adapt accordingly.
This could look like:
▪️ Scheduling in catch up time after holidays
▪️ Making time for planning and practicing an important conversation or presentation
▪️ Allowing space to connect and have fun with others
▪️ Not being so critical of ourselves
▪️ Allowing recovery/slow days after high energy events
▪️ Reframing rest as recovery for performance
▪️ Taking breaks
Optimism is an amazing strength, until it’s overused - usually at a cost to no one but ourselves.
What resonates for you?
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