What does the quote ''A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties'' mean?

Answer 1

What does that mean?

There are two kinds of people in the world, those who divide everything into two groups, and everyone else. But seriously, while we may slip between camps from time to time, most of us are either optimists or pessimists.

This quote uses a fairly bright line to divide people between the camps. Life is full of both difficulties and opportunities, the quote says. How you approach these things will define you as either an optimist or a pessimist.

The approach you take will depend largely on your attitude and your focus. If you are an upbeat person, with an upbeat attitude, you're far more likely to be an optimist. Similarly, if your focus is on the opportunities, rather than the difficulties, you are more likely to be an optimist. Does that make sense?

Why is focus important?

What you focus on is what you get. It's true in so many aspects of life. That's the reason so many accidents happen near trees and light poles. If you look at it, that's where you're going to end up. If that's not the way you want things to go, then don't focus on your problems, focus on what you want, right?

However, focus alone will rarely get you anything worth having. There is attitude and activity that goes along with that laser sharp focus, and together they help you get things done. However, without focus, it's all thrust and no vector. That is, while there may be a great deal of activity, but without focus, there is no direction, and little is accomplished.

Focus is important because it keeps you on track. If you can't focus, can you get anything useful done? For me, and most people I know, when they can't focus, they can't do much without someone telling them what to do. Focus is what keeps you on task, and keeps your energy on target. In short, it's the difference between working hard and getting things done.

Where can I apply this in my life?

If you're even half as scatter brained as I am most days, you have my sympathies. I have a day planner to help me keep track of what I am supposed to be focusing on each day, lest I forget or become distracted. As a matter of fact, I just got back from browsing the net when I should have been finishing this blog. So much for focus… 8(

So, to me the biggest problem with focus is maintaining it. As someone who enjoys every moment of my ADHD, I still need to get things done from time to time. I am a big fan of lists, and so that is how I keep on top of what I need to stay focused on.

However, that requires conscious competence, which means I have to notice that I've wandered off before I can get back to what I should be doing. When I can, I remove distractions, or even distract myself with harmless things, like background music.

Note that there is a difference between a lack of focus and having difficulty staying focused. The first requires you to get more specific about what you want, until you know exactly what you want, and can develop laser-like focus. The other requires better management skills.

Which is your problem? I discussed how I deal with my difficulties maintaining focus in the paragraphs above, so let's look at getting a bit more focus in a vague idea. If you don't know what you want, it's kind of hard to focus on it, right? The more specific you are, the easier it is to focus on it, and to get it done.

Do your research, and become informed on the breadth and depths of your topic. As you learn more about the topic, you can start determining what you want more of, less of, and what specifically you are willing to work for. The more you know, the easier it is to focus, so do your homework.

When I got married the first time, I had no idea what I wanted in a mate. Thing progressed down the path to the altar, and soon I was there, and married. Things didn't work out very well, and divorced shortly thereafter.

However it was an excellent wake-up call. I now knew exactly what I didn't want, and had a much better idea of what I did want. With that focus, I was able to find my wife in fairly short order. What are you fuzzy on? Are you looking for love through beer goggles?

I truly believe that with a positive attitude and consistent and dedicated action, you will achieve that on which you are focused.