Half Empty Half Full

1
Half Empty
Half Full?

• By Johnika Nixon
• Temeshia Rufus

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Overview

• Relevance
• Purpose
• Defining terms
• Food for Thought
• Self Analysis of Glass metaphor
• Discussion

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Relevance

• Personal optimism correlates strongly with
  self-esteem, psychological well-being and with
  personal health.
• Dealing with people on a constant basis with the
  RA job can be stressful
• Self analysis to help you reach a Happy Medium
  in this job, with school, with friends, family
  and your residents.

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Purpose

• To assist you in developing more as a student
  leader and role model
• Learning how to balance disappointment with joy
  in dealing with various aspects of your life
• To assist you in being a positive member of your
  staff, thoughtful of your actions, words and
  expressions

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Optimism / Pessimism

• What is your personal definition of optimism and
  pessimism ?

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Food for Thought

• An optimist is one who sees a light. A pessimist
  is one who blows it out.
• An optimist laughs to forget. A pessimist forgets
  to laugh.
• An optimist thinks that this is the best possible
  world. A pessimist fears that this is true.

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Optimism

• Optimism exemplifies a life view where one looks
  upon the world as a positive place. Optimists
  generally believe that people and events are
  inherently good. They have a so-called "positive"
  outlook on life, believing that things will work
  out in the end.

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Quote

• I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of
  things. The glass is always half-empty. And
  cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped
  a tooth.--Janeane Garofalo

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Pessimism

• Pessimism describes a general belief that things
  are bad, and tend to become worse or that looks
  to the eventual triumph of evil over good it
  contrasts with optimism, the contrary belief in
  the goodness and betterment of things generally

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Happy Medium

• Having more of one does not mean you have less of
  the other.
• The factors that reduce one do not necessarily
  increase the other.
• On many occasions in life we need both in equal
  supplyHappy Medium
• Ways to take from both your optimistic side and
  balance with your pessimistic side

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Ways to Incorporate Optimism into the RA Position

• Project hope and try to view problems as
  temporary setbacks
• Expect things to work out
• Keep a positive attitude and be open-minded
• Be honest in your intentions
• Treat others as youd want to be treated

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Ways to Incorporate Pessimism into the RA Position

• Be prepared for the unexpected
• Set moderate goals
• Plan well/advanced/accordingly
• Do your part
• Dont be afraid to apologize if you are wrong
• Dont be afraid to be wrong
• Dont be afraid to doubt (you are who you are)
• Try to give people the benefit of the doubt

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So what are you?

• Are you an Optimist or a Pessimist?
• Test Time!!!!!! ?

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Follow-Up Discussion

• How do you feel about the results of the test?
  Why?
• Where any results absolutely accurate?
• Did any specific question(s) from the survey
  stand out?
• What have you learned from this presentation
  about yourself? From the online assessment?
• Did the assessment make you conscience of your
  behavior as a optimist, pessimist, happy medium?
• How will you use this material to promote a
  cohesive staff this year?