This was really fascinating. I especially liked the bit about too much unrealistic optimism not being healthy. I prefer a serene “It is what it is.” stance combined with hard graft, authentic passion and a deep belief that love, compassion, presence and humanity will save us all.

I did the maths on how much writing I do every day and how many years I’ve been doing it; I reckon I should be getting better some day soon! Those statistics are a real eye opener, too, if you take into account that we get better every day at the negative things we do. I could easily slip into spending that many hours a day nagging and moaning at my teenage daughter if I let myself. Then I’d be an accomplished supreme evil being.

Nice post, Mary – worth a revisit to check out all the juicy links.
.-= janice´s last blog ..How to Breathe Life Into Your Writing =-.

“God helps those who help those who help themselves”

As in get off your duff, work at it, then you’ll get the assistance to need.

Is this my experience? Yes indeedy-do!
.-= Eliza´s last blog ..Joining the ranks of the Sandwich Generation =-.

BTW did you look at the ‘Despondex’ video?

I don’t think Oprah is the original source for that quote. I have heard this version:
“Good luck is where opportunity meets preparation” – Winston Churchill
.-= Bengt´s last blog ..The Five Tibetan Rites =-.

That’s very different from what the self-help movement says where you’re supposed to visualize the end result!

I do think it can work – for visualising the process. That is, not the end result (which may work for motivation) but knowing enough of what we need to do to be able to visualise to the point where we just begin to respond. In this way visualisation can be useful for developing skill in my experience.
.-= Evan´s last blog ..Living Authentically =-.