Most people are a mix of optimism and pessimism， but are inclined in one direction or the other. It is a pattern of thinking learned at our mothers’knees. It grows out of thousands of cautions or encouragements， negative statements or positive ones. Too many “don’t” and warnings of danger can make a child feel incompetent， fearful—and pessimistic. Pessimism is a hard habit to break—but it can be done.
你所看到的是半杯水，还是杯中空的一半呢？你看见的是炸面包圈，还是其间的空洞呢？当研究人员仔细研究积极思维的效应时，这些陈词滥调陡然间就都成了科学性的问题。研究表明，乐观能使人更快乐、健康和成功。悲观则相反，它使人绝望、病态和失败，并与消沉、孤寂和痛苦的胆怯紧密相连。如果我们能教导人们更加积极地思考，就如同给那些心理疾病患者注射了预防疫苗。