Happiness Hit Her Like a Bullet In Her Mind

Whether your dearest friend has cancer, you're drowning in debt, or your fears, doubts, and worries are gripping you from moving forward, one of your arsenals to combat the interminable commotion of life is optimism.

In the recent blog post A Richer Life by Seeing the Glass Half Full by Jane E. Brody from the New York Times, Brody poses a paradigm shift in the definition of optimism. The more traditional definition of being optimistic is often thought of as, "...avoid negative self-talk. Instead of focusing on prospects of failure, dwell on the positive aspects of a situation."

I think this definition still holds weight but instead of just thinking positive, the more progressive definition encompasses an element that focuses on moving forward: "...rather than giving up and walking away from difficult situations, optimists attack problems head-on. They plan a course of action, getting advice from others and staying focused on a solution."

So, you can tell Darth Vader to back off and quite frankly, the dark side doesn't have cookies. Through a solution-oriented approach and fully equipping yourself with a strategy that even Yoda would be proud of, you might find yourself turning your face to the light and letting your shadows fall behind you.