Is it possible to change from a "glass half empty" to a "glass half full" type of person?

[driver8]

I would really like to change my outlook on things. I always look at the bad side of things and dwell on that, even when there are many positive things to be considered.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I really would appreciate it.

[NightWatcher]

1. get a smaller glass

[driver8]

2. That would certainly work... n/t

[Yavin4]

3. Allow Me To Share With You Some of My Personal Philosophy

driver8,

In life, you take the good. You take the bad. You take them both, and there you have the facts of life. The facts of life. There's a time you got to go and show you're growing. Now, you know about the facts of life. The facts of life.

When the world never seems to be living up to your dreams, and suddenly, you're finding out the facts of life are all about you.

[LaurenG]

4. Its a hard habit to break but it can be done

I used to be much more glass half full and had fallen into "its all crap" mode. I have to start with what I'm thinking at any given moment.

So lets say you are expecting to be aggravated by something and you catch yourself thinking negatively, immediately change your thought to something more positive. Being grateful for what you have in your life is a good place to start too. It starts with one thought being changed.

If I say don't think of an elephant you will immediately picture an elephant but if I say don't think of an elephant think of an alligator instead, your focus will immediately go to the alligator. It works the same way with negative thoughts with the elephant being the negative thought and the alligator the more positive. Gather up a positive focus to use once you catch yourself going negative and replace the negative with the positive thought instead.
It takes some work and you'll fall into old habits at first but don't give up, like anything else persevere no matter how many times you mess up.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

5. Read Albert Ellis' A Guide to Rational Living.

he came up with Rational-Emotive Therapy.
When you hear a voice in your head telling you you are bad, you stop it and change it to "I am a good person" or whatever phrase would work.

Change those voices in your head. A Guide to Rational Living is a classic book.

[driver8]

9. Thanks -- I will check it out. n/t

[seabeyond]

6. change the language in your head. everytime you see it half empty

say stop, rethink, find the half full. cause there is always a half full. in time.... i am thinking. i am always a half full kinda gal. so dont know how hard or if possible. but i do find when i stop myself from thinking a way, that is the start. and then reinforcing with how i want to think

practice. go around playing with it in a short time and see how easy it is.

i see it that there is energy in all things. higher and lower vibration. even in the bad, this is true. so even in bad, you can connect with the higher vibration. then, is it really bad?

[Iggo]

7. Give it conscious effort, practice, and time.

Worked for me.

Mostly.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. Yes it's easy.

Pick up a couple books on positive attitudes.

Oh. And read them. :-)

[seabeyond]

13. i think everyone should read 4 agreements by ruiz? and power of now.

i dont know if it is about positive thinking, but they are good books.

[Shagbark Hickory]

14. Those sound like good recommendations.

All I have really read on the subject are books on sales and customer service that talked about attitude at length.

[driver8]

10. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment...

I have received some great ideas and advice.

I appreciate it.

[dimbear]

11. OK, this will sound weird but it will work. Go for about three days

without drinking anything. You will find a new appreciation for half full glasses.

note: dangerous and foolish idea, but you see my point.

[elleng]

12. Good idea.

I think it would be difficult for me to change, but wouldn't want to; I'm 'half-full.'
:hi:

[mopinko]

15. no

at least not permanently. or without medication.

[seabeyond]

16. hey.. what half empty thinking that is.... geeez, lol. wonderful example. nt

[seabeyond]

17. lmao.... and the half full thinker, seeing the wonderful example in it which is

another wonderful example.

so fuckin funny

[mopinko]

18. i'm just old.

i look back and see that i spent half my life trying to change, and failed miserably. i just refuse to try any more.

[seabeyond]

21. ya know. i get that. truly, i dont have the grass is greener or half empty perspective

but there are other things about who i am, and i am so ok with it. it is what it is. a person doesnt like it, they truely dont have to hang around. that is cool. i get what you are saying.

[Old Troop]

19. Yes. You can change your outlook. 30 years ago I was a pessimistic,

negative person and decided to change. I forced myself to act in an outgoing and positive manner. After awhile, I found myself actually feeling that way and have never looked back.

[Aristus]

20. I'm not into the whole "half-full, half-empty" thing.

I'm the kind of guy who says: "Hey look, there's something in the glass. And there's room for more..." ;-)

[Boojatta]

23. Are you quoting somebody, or is that your own independent material?

I like it. I'm inclined to swipe it and use it as my signature line.

[Aristus]

24. Those are my words.

But I can't imagine that the sentiment originated with me. But go ahead, use it if you want to. :-)

[driver8]

26. Ha Ha -- I like that! n/t

[Swede]

22. Been in GD,I take it?

[driver8]

28. Avoiding it like the plague...

GD sends me to a very dark place.

[Kat45]

25. I've been wondering the same thing, so I will be sure to read the responses.

I have a fairly new acquaintance who says he's not a "glass half full" or "glass half empty" person--he's a "glass overflowing" person. Blows me away because I don't get how somebody can be that optimistic, and that happy. I've always been a "glass half empty" person, and in the past few years, unfortunately I've become a "glass half empty with a leak in it" type of person.

[driver8]

27. My mother in law is a "glass overflowing" type of person.

Maybe she hides it well, I don't know...but she always is positive and looks at the bright side of things.

I always dwell on the negative and as a result, often miss the positive. I want to change this way of thinking because it makes me feel like shit.

[seabeyond]

37. this is cute cause you know why...

you say she is overflowing. say she always sees positive, bright side. and then, without any evidence says, maybe she hides it well...

that is the half empty you stop in your brain

[driver8]

38. Ouch!!

Thank you for pointing that out to me...

[raccoon]

29. Yes, it's possible. I used to have the most negative attitude.

I'm a much more positive person now.

Advice? Well, here's what worked for me. Several 12-step programs. Therapy. SSRI's.

PM me if you want.

[The2ndWheel]

30. The glass, is, like, an artificial construct, man

Designed to intercept and constrict the natural flow. Got to break free of the glass bars. Tip the glass over. Let the chips fall where they may.

[Fleshdancer]

31. Yes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a way to train your brain to respond to things differently. I've used it for anxiety in the past and people also use it for depression. I see no reason why it wouldn't work for you too.

I recommend the book Feeling Good by David Burns: http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Therapy-Revised-Updated/dp/0380810336/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315584746&sr=1-1

Wikipedia has info on CBT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy

[Throd]

32. I did about 15 years ago. Life is much better this way.

[pitohui]

33. to a certain extent it's just a matter of practice

you cannot change your basic character, i am of a nature that i can always see the negative or the downside but you can use little tricks to make your ability a positive, helpful one

when i see the "glass half empty" i can use my insights to avoid problems that more optimistic friends don't see

example -- several friends saw millions of dollars to be made in real estate, i looked into it and couldn't see how this would work, they all laughed when i put my money into CDs, i still have the money from the CDs except for what i withdraw each year to cover unexpected expenses, my friends who went into the real estate bubble have almost all declared bankruptcy, except for one, and he will declare bankruptcy soon

so, your first step is to examine where your "glass half empty" skeptical nature is beneficial and USE that skepticism to help yourself

your second step is to learn how to turn it off, if you feel negativity coming around, see if the worry is legit, if you're already addressing it remind yourself that you're on top of it and free your mind to enjoy life

you have to practice deliberately not dwelling on the negative thought, if you have a worry put it on the list "i'll deal with it" and then, if research shows you SHOULD deal with, do so...otherwise, just remind yourself that the worry is "on the list" and you don't have to hold the worry in your head

this is a rather primitive description but you will find it helpful, i'm sure you've noticed the optimistics who leap w.out looking have very tough lives -- be proud of what you are and just tweak your character a bit to help yourself be happier

ben franklin was a pessimist and he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams in achieving in many areas of life -- we won't be ben franklin but we should not allow the "sales droid" types to sell us on the idea that optimistism is necessary for success -- the opposite is generally true, i would say that the insecure and the worried have achieved far more than the person who thinks everything is already peachy...it goes to motivation...change comes from dissatisfaction, your dissatisfaction can be a good thing as long as you don't let it eat your head

this character type exists in the human gene pool because it is useful and helpful, remind yourself of that! if everyone was pollyanna we'd still be living in caves because if everybody's already happy, where's the need for hope and change?

[pintobean]

34. Perception is everything. Try one of these.

[driver8]

35. Ha Ha -- good one! n/t

[MrsBrady]

36. I'm working on understanding that too

although, I'm working also on understanding how

"my cup runneth over"

:hi:

[av8rdave]

39. I am in the middle of that very transformation

Sometimes learning that your own image of yourself wasn't 100% correct is enough to make the change.