People seem to be talking about birthdays a lot and my birthday came to mind. I'll be turning 18, like most people, but that's not what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking about the date I was born. December 31. New Years eve. People everywhere throw parties and celebrate the end of the old year and the new year. I also see it (jokingly) as people throw parties for my birthday. But they're parties counting down to the end of my birthday. So this joke that I make every year got me thinking about perception and how we view things.
What causes us to see things the way we do, in terms of glass half full or half empty?
I've come to see the empty side, but prefer to focus on what's there than what's not. Pessimism is unhealthy in constant doses. Optimism can be blinding if used at all times. Use a balance of realism with good attitude.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I always wondered about kids who have holiday birthdays. How do you deal with Christmas vs. Birthday gifts?
I think that the majority of it is just perception. You talk about how they're celebrating your birthday (I personally think that is awesome), glass half full. Then, you talk about how they're counting down to the end of your birthday, glass half empty. Both are very viable ways to look at it. I one sense, the entire world is celebrating for you and in the other, the entire world is celebrating the end of your special day. I suppose this could come from how you've been treated in the past, how people act around you, etc.
ReplyDeleteCody- I think in most cases, they're the same gift. I think that would kind of stink. I'm lucky though, 'cause I have a summer birthday and there isn't anything to interfere with that!
hahahahaha, In certain terms it would be a glass full situation because a lot of people celebrate the next day however you can never forget your birthday. And people always have to look at the bright side.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are all saying,but let me give you an engineers perspective, in a little joke I have come across a great joke. Here it is.
ReplyDeleteTo the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
I also agree that the glass is half full but truly the glass is full because the glass is half full of a liquid and the rest of the cup is filled with a gas(es) or air.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you. And, I know you have just been waiting to use that.
DeleteIn my mind it depends on the situation whether or not your glass is half full or half empty. For instance, if you are doing something that you love and encounter an obstacle, but really enjoy this activity, then you will face the problem at hand as if the glass is half full (am I using the term correctly?). The same is true if you absolutely hate what you are doing and look at the glass as half empty, almost like you're thinking "when will it end?" I dunno, that's just my thoughts right now.
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