Optimism and Health Benefits Essay Example for Free

Optimism and Health Benefits Essay â€Å"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.† This quote from Victor Hugo is a perfect example of optimism. When someone is optimistic, they have a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome. Optimism is simply a mental game. The brain can interpret situations or events as being optimized; meaning that some factors may not be fully comprehendible, yet having confidence that the present moment is in an optimist state. This understanding, although criticized by counter views such as pessimism, realism, and idealism, leads to a state of mind that believes everything is as it should be. With optimism, someone contains hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. Not only does optimism give someone confidence, it also provides many health benefits and a sense of purpose in life. â€Å"Is your glass half empty, or half full?† This saying is a common idiom that illustrates optimism versus pessimism; an optimist is said to see the glass half full, and a pessimist sees the glass as half empty. Winston Churchill provides another unique understanding of this idea: â€Å"The optimist sees opportunity in every danger; the pessimist sees danger in every opportunity,† The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events will last a long time, will undermine everything they do, and are their own fault. The optimists, who are confronted with the same problems of the world, think about misfortune in the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback. Provoked by a bad situation, they perceive is as a challenge to try harder. If the thoughts that run through one’s head are mostly negative, their outlook on life is more likely to be pessimistic. There is nothing better in life than having a peace of mind that no matter what the troubles are that life may bring, everything will be okay and that life has so much to offer. Unfortunately this peace of mind does not happen over-night, it takes years of trials and experience s to be able to see the bright side of any given situation. People are not automatically born with optimism; they have to experience negative circumstances in order to find the strength to be optimistic in general. Without hardships, optimism would not grow. Optimism often starts with self-talk. These endless streams of unspoken thoughts can either be positive, or negative. Optimism does not mean that one keeps their head in the sand and ignore life’s less unpleasant situations, it just means that the approach to the unpleasantness is in a more positive and productive way. With this approach to any given situation, stress can be reduced. Often time’s people upset themselves over something minute, causing a lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits, hostile mood, etc. What they do not know is that with a simple thought of, â€Å"I can do this,† or â€Å"It will be okay,† their whole stream of thoughts eventually start following that positive pattern, changing their whole mood, reducing stress, and increasing their chances of overcoming obstacles. Not only does an optimistic view reduce stress, it also decreases the risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and infections. Optimism itself, not just its association with happiness, lowers anxiety, thus causing less hostility, and has the potential to lower the risk of a stroke. U.S. researchers followed more than 97,000 women for about eight years. Measures of optimism and cynical hostility were strongly associated with these outcomes: Optimists had a lower incidence of heart disease and total mortality. Conversely, cynical hostility, which is a lack of confidence and increased bitterness, was associated with both higher overall mortality and cancer-related effects. Along with positive health benefits, optimism also gives someone a sense of purpose. American psychologist, Salvatore Maddi, co-author of Resilience at Work: How to Succeed No Matter What Life Throws at You, extensively studied what makes executives tough in the face of work-related stress. He found that the healthiest of executives shared three characteristics: a feeling of commitment, a sense of control in their lives, and an acceptance of life’s stressful moments as challenges rather than threats. This research confirms that having a sense of commitment to a purpose does not merely give someone meaning; it makes them more resistant to the impact of stressful living. This view on optimism can increase one’s chances of succeeding their goals or dreams, and not allowing negative situations to hinder their attitude. With hopefulness that their goals will be achieved, their motivation is amplified as well. Optimism is a way of life that is not learned automatically, it takes time and effort to completely change one’s mindset. This mindset has many positive effects. A firm confidence in one’s self develops, and they have self-assurance that no matter what life throws at them, it is completely possible to overcome those obstacles. Optimists tend to believe that defeat is not their fault; circumstances, bad luck, or other people bring it about. Such people are unfazed by defeat. Optimism not only gives one confidence, but also provides a countless number of health benefits. With an optimistic attitude, depression can be reversed. Although it takes time to get out of a slump, just the start of positive self-talk can remove one out of despair. Positive self-talk also reduces stress and the chance of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and strokes. A sense of purpose also develops with someone who acquires an optimistic mentality. A sense of purpose does not only give someone meaning, it helps them to overcome the stresses that life brings. Optimism merely starts with a simple â€Å"I will be okay.† It takes small steps, but it is completely possible for one to change their outlook on life and not let circumstances defeat one’s life.

The Perversion of Dorians Soul in Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian

The Perversion of Dorian's Soul in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The soul is thought to be an immaterial entity coexisting with our bodies which is credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion.   It is the part of our body which is believed to live on after the body dies.   In Oscar Wilde's, The Picture of Dorian Gray, the main character, Dorian Gray, destroys the innocence of his soul and becomes corrupt. He becomes corrupt by failing to live a life of virtue.   The main reason for his transformation can be attributed to a portrait painted of him that captured the true essence of his innocence.   This portrait is the personification of his soul.   At the beginning of the book Dorian makes a wish that inevitably changes his life forever.   His wish is that, "If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!   For that - for that - I would give everything!   Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give!   I would give my soul for that!" (Wilde, 40)   As Dorian's wish of staying young and beautiful forever come true so does the fact that he has given his soul away to the devil.   Another contributing factor to the perversion of Dorian's soul comes from his supposed friend, Lord Henry Wotton.   Lord Henry fills Dorian's head with his outrageous philosophies such as, "....youth is the one thing worth having. .... You have only a few years in which to live really, perfectly, and fully.   When your youth goes, your beauty will go with it..." (34) and "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.   Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous ... ... that Dorian has become a dissolute and perverse man who cannot understand that vanity and the thrill of "new sensations" are not what run the world.    Works Cited    Cohen, Ed.   Talk on the Wilde Side.   Great Britain: Routledge, 1993. Freidman, Jonathan (edited).   Oscar Wilde: A Collection of Critical Essays.   New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1996. Pearson, Hesketh (edited).   Essays By Oscar Wilde.   New York: Books For Libraries Press, 1972. Ransome, Arthur.   Oscar Wilde: A Critical Study.   London: Mr. Martin Secker, 1913. Weintraub, Stanley (edited).   Literary Criticism of Oscar Wilde.   Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 1968. Woodcock, George.   The Paradox of Oscar Wilde.   London-New York: T.V. Boardman and Co., Ltd., 1950. Wilde, Oscar.   The Picture of Dorian Gray.   Denmark: Wordsworth Editions Limited, Reprinted V      

External and Internal Environmental Analysis Essay

An external and internal environment scan is necessary in developing a strategic plan for an organization. Longmont Housing Authority (LHA) needs to assess their internal and external environment to see a full view of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and trends. In this paper, an internal and external competitive environmental scan for Longmont Housing Authority will be performed. An analysis of the most important external environmental factor in the remote, industry, and external operating environments is included. The most important internal strengths and weaknesses of the organization will be identified. It includes an assessment of the organization’s resources. Finally, the organization’s competitive position and possibilities will be assessed. External Environment Scan The strategic management model shows the external environment as three interactive segments: the remote, industry, and operating environments (Pearce & Robinson, 2011, p. 13). Economic, social, political, technological, ecological, and international environments affect how LHA formulates their strategic plans. In the economic environment, the company is affected by inflation, interest rates, population, and so on. The threat of depressed economy is always a factor in the success of Longmont Housing Authority. Their processes and strategies can be modified to fit the changes in the economy. Due to the changes in social factors such as beliefs, opinions, lifestyle, and preferences, the company can see the underlying trends, threats, and opportunities. An increase in population in Boulder County increases the demand for affordable housing. This is an opportunity that is open for LHA as they continue to do grow and development their organization. The increased threat of a growing population and lack of  affordable housing is an opportunity for the organization to find potential funding sources to expand their portfolio. Their new project is due to break ground next month. This is a 62 unit affordable housing for seniors. Flood victims will have priority on the waitlist for this property, due to the fact that the majority of the funding for this project came from a state flood recovery program. The increasing population is also a good opportunity for the organization because they will be able to justify the need for future housing projects that will be desperately needed in the future. Factors that more directly influence a firm’s prospects originate in the environment of its industry, including entry barriers, competitor rivalry, the availability of substitutes, and the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers (Pearce & Robinson, 2011, p. 110). However, LHA does not have to face tough competition in the housing industry. They are threatened by the threats of funding being pulled by Housing of Urban Development (HUD) or other private investors, who may find affordable housing an investment risk. Internal Environment Scan The organization has been gaining competitive advantages since their launch in 2014 of bringing the property management in house, opposed to hiring a 3rd party to handle the property management. These changes have improved staff development, improved agency financial stability, has streamlined processes, and as a result, they have developed effective policies. Because there is such a demand for affordable housing and very few investors wanting to get involved in this industry there is not much competition. LHA has been able to develop good working partnership with other Longmont agencies, to include the senior center, the police department, city council, Mental Health Partners, and other non-profits that assist the homeless and low income population. LHA’s Competitive Position and Possibilities Longmont Housing Authority is in a good competitive position due to the mentioned strengths and opportunities in the internal and external environment scan. It is highly possible that they will continue to lead in the affordable housing industry because of the focus they are providing to research and development. They can also avoid the threats and eliminate  competition by having experienced staff, and focusing on employee development. Conclusion Longmont Housing Authority is affected by the external and internal environment factors. Their strengths include their property portfolio (product) and processes. They are investing in development and they have a couple major housing projects in the works. They are threatened in the industry because of the threat of lack of funding and strict government regulations. If they will continue to push their initiative in discovering new ways to fund their projects, they can maintain or even improve their current performance. References Pearce, J. A., II, & Robinson, R. B. (2011). Strategic management: Formulation, implementation, and control (12th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. The Longmont Housing Authority. (2014). Retrieved from http://longmontha.com/

Debates Essay - 685 Words

Before engaging in the debates with Senator Stephen A. Douglas, Lincoln was relatively unknown in the political world and was just beginning his career in politics. Abraham Lincoln’s reputation was just starting to grow, and his life was about to make a drastic change. The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 were a turning point in Abraham Lincoln’s political career. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; After being nominated to the Illinois legislature, Lincoln gave his famous â€Å"House Divided† speech which caused much grief between the North and the South. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A short while after he was nominated, Lincoln challenged Stephen A. Douglas to a series of debates. Douglas quickly accepted, and named seven sites in Illinois for†¦show more content†¦The majority of the people were for slavery, not against it. This debate proved disappointing for Lincoln and his followers. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;At Charleston, Lincoln tried to break away from any radicalism. He didn’t want to be labeled as an abolitionist. In this particular debate, Lincoln showed his support of the Fugitive Slave Law. He said that slavery was protected by the Constitution. The main concern of this debate, as well as the rest of the debates was whether or not the government should ban slavery in the United States, or do the citizens have the democratic right to end slavery. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The fifth debate was held at Galesburg. This debate helped Lincoln regain his confidence. He attacked all of Douglas’ points firmly. He replied to the Kansas problem with inspiration and determination. He wanted to prove to the town of Galesburg that slavery was â€Å"a moral and political wrong.† nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The next encounter took place in Quincy, Illinois, on Wednesday, October 13, 1858. It focused on personal issues of both speakers, and the differences in speaking techniques, physical appearances, and personalities. 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