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Realistic Optimism

Negative thinking

Definition of Negative Thinking

By Jan Lawrence | 27 August 2014

A short video which defines negative thinking and demonstrates the impact it can have on us and our daily lives.

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Glass of water half full - Realistic Optimism

Resilience – Learning to Become More Optimistic

By Jan Lawrence | 27 August 2012

Resilience – Learning to Become More Optimistic

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Resiliency Training

By Jan Lawrence | 05 September 2011

After trauma, teaching hope (CNN) — The number of young men and women from the U.S. Army who committed suicide last month was so devastatingly high that it set a dismal new record. About two-thirds of the 32 dead were active-duty soldiers; the rest were reservists. And like all riptides of tragedy, news of the…

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Butterfly to depict change in public sector

Resilience for Possible Imminent Redundancy

By Jan Lawrence | 04 May 2011

Problem Solving Highly resilient people have the ability to look at problems and challenges from a comprehensive perspective.  Problems and challenges are viewed from many different perspectives, with many factors given consideration.   It is the ability to accurately identify the causes of an adversity and get outside of their habitual thinking styles to identify more…

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Good mental Health present

Good Mental Health Tips – Our Present to You

By Jan Lawrence | 17 March 2011

Unfortunately, mental health problems aren’t so openly discussed and the reaction to the statistic is more of “I can’t see that happening to me”. Given that mental ill health is one of the main causes of time off work, good mental health isn’t just a problem for the individual.

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Glass of water half full - Realistic Optimism

Realistic Optimism

By Jan Lawrence | 09 February 2011

Here is an extract from our Developing Personal Resilience course about learning to become more optimistic.

Highly resilient people have a realistic, optimistic view of the world. This optimism is not fantastical it is based in reality. They persist in seeking goals despite obstacles and setbacks. They tend to operate from hope of success rather than fear of failure. Setbacks are viewed as due to manageable circumstance rather than personal flaw.

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Resilience - Flowers growing through tarmac

Why Resilience Matters

By Jan Lawrence | 09 November 2010

  “Life is not what it’s supposed to be, it’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference”  Virginia Satir Life is full of experiences of adversities.  Some of them are external such as fires, earthquakes, floods, wars, or violence.  Some of them are within the family, such as…

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Tell me why … I don’t like Mondays

By Jan Lawrence | 28 June 2010

BBC Radio Scotland Interview with Dr David Mason Brown on Friday 21 May 2010.

The full script is now available

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Glass of water half full - Realistic Optimism

Learned Optimism, by Martin Seligman

By Jan Lawrence | 30 August 2008

Why is it that some people can overcome adversity and others can’t? Why are some people more prone to depression than others? How can some sales people keep going despite getting one ‘no’ after another, while some give up after the first ‘no’? This brilliant and important paperback answers these questions.

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