By Sunny Simon
Recently I spent some time at The Happiest Place on Earth. During my stroll down Main Street, I encountered some pals of the lovely Snow White. Based on personality, three of these characters reminded me of individuals I know. Happy, the dwarf created to provide laughter and add joy to the lives of the others, is my favorite. He is a reflection of my optimist friends who consistently find the good in every situation. An optimist excels at positive thinking and knows tough times won’t last. I admire this characteristic and strive to hone the same kind of outlook. Granted, finding the silver lining amidst stormy dark clouds is not always an easy feat, but it is doable. In addition to creating a sunny persona, optimism promotes joyfulness, increases patience and helps develop resilience in the face of adversity.
The polar opposite of the endearing Happy is the formidable character Grumpy. Easily irritated by the troop, this dwarf is argumentative and prone to finding fault. Labeled pessimists, we all have experienced and typically avoid individuals possessing the Grumpy personality.
I would dub the Huntsman as the realist in this fantasy film. Chartered by the jealous Queen to lure Snow White into the forest and kill her, he realizes this task goes against his moral code and urges the fair maiden to escape. I like realistic people. They often take a zero expectation stance. Much can be said for keeping your expectation level in check. It’s like entering life’s stage in protective armor. You cannot get hurt or disappointed if you expect nothing from a situation. This quality helps eliminate the need for kudos and appreciation. You do your best and that’s where it ends. It doesn’t matter how many likes you get on Facebook, or the number of cards filling your mailbox on your birthday.
I suppose we can label a large segment of the population realistic optimists. Individuals with this personality type know success is far from effortless. They plan carefully, and diligently work at achieving set goals.
Whether you fall into the realist camp, the optimist group, or somewhere in between, beware of pessimistic tendencies. Negative thinking spirals into lethargy and depression. According to Web MD, attitude matters when it comes to your health. Studies reveal pessimists were more likely than their counterparts to suffer from diabetes, elevated blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Lessons from the Disney gang: Be happy, mix in a large dose of reality and live longer. And, if possible, follow Snow White’s advice. “When hearts are high, the time will fly, so whistle while you work.”
Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com
