Is Being Negative and Being Realistic the Same Thing?

I just skimmed the New York Times headlines for the week and saw that unemployment is at 7.2 per cent. Seeing that headline got me thinking...

Humans have a tendency to confuse negativism and realism. In my job as a life coach, I see it constantly. When clients tell me that they "had to get realistic" or "want to get real," I buckle my seat belt. I know that they are now going to tell me everything that is wrong in their lives; everything that did not work and everything they are convinced they cannot do.

That is not being real...that is simply being negative.

Realism involves the negative, but also the positive and everything in your universe that lies between those two positions. It involves giving yourself credit for the challenges tried, failures and your successes as well. Realism is acknowledging the fact that your abs are less than stellar, but your legs are amazing. It is knowing that many consider your voice whiny, but think that it is worth it to listen because of the quality of what you have to say.

Unemployment is 7.2 per cent. That is awful. But employment is 92.8 per cent. Sounds pretty good to me. I know, we measure unemployment. But isn't that what I am talking about? Only focusing on what we don't have, can't do, and struggle with is not realistic.

It's simply being negative.

Have a great day.