Bike & Red Geraniums by Al Biegel – Al Beigel Online Gallery
After catching up with an old friend and professional colleague this week, I am reminded of two of the most important qualities to have in this life: a sunny outlook and a positive self regard.
Oh, yes, there are many others: rigor and discipline come to mind. But optimism and positive self regard are crucial.
If you haven’t noticed, Life is always throwing us curve balls. Plans go awry. Dreams get shattered. Or Self Will drives us into the ditch. We thought we were sooo smart. Now look at us. Sometimes we get stuck in the mud of disappointment and the muck of failure. Or we fall down and simply can’t get up.
Shit happens.
No one is exempt.
In these times, rigor and discipline don’t mean much without optimism. It’s as easy for our Lizard brain to get fixed on fear as any another emotion. And fear begets negativity.
Anger. Depression. Lethargy. Apathy. Despair. Hopelessness. Helplessness. Oh, I could go on and on, but you know how it goes – emotional quicksand.
Discipline becomes self indulgence in a continuous loop of trying to soothe remorse, regret, self-recrimination. Or the force of our will constantly lashes out, seeking to asses blame – they, them, anyone but you-know-who. But underneath it all, we always know who. Even when we pretend otherwise.
This self-talk becomes as constant as the hum of electricity in our homes and over time becomes almost imperceptible except in the lack, limitation and despair that it begets.
It’s not so much as we dwell on our mistakes; we live in them.
What pulls us out of the slump?
Yep.
Optimism. Positive self regard.
Mistakes don’t become a Federal case. Failure doesn’t become a life sentence. We are not doomed. We are human.
With optimism, we take it all in stride – the bitter with the sweet. With positive self-regard, we separate our Self from the job, the business, the relationship. We summon the courage to keep on whatever keeping on looks like.
Oh well. That didn’t work. What’s next!
See.
A bientot mes amies. Bonne journee!
Dear Pat: I very much appreciated your use of my painting of the geranium and bike that I painted in Provence for your excellent blog. Indeed, I was flattered! Please feel free to use any of my paintings posted on my web site. In fact. I shall be going back to Provence in May to paint a myriad of additional scenes. I believe that your stimulating blog will continue to help many of your peers. Please keep me posted. I appreciated the use of my paintings in such a constructive and positive manner
I’m so pleased you approve the use of your work. I’m sure I’ll find many other paintings that capture the spirit of the work. Have fun in Provence.