Optimizing America
Author: Rosalene Glickman Ph.D.

Do you describe yourself as a positive thinker? We all know that positive thinking can motivate us to be productive, efficient and successful, but have you ever considered that there are varying shades of positive thinking? For example, some positive thinkers think in mediocre terms and are interested in good results. You may know some extraordinary positive thinkers who seek extraordinary or outstanding results.

Communication between positive thinkers on these different levels is often problematic. Conversation between a mediocre positive thinker and an extraordinary positive thinker does not provide the best possible outcome because they are not on the same wavelength. The mediocre thinker acts as a "wet blanket'" to the extraordinarily positive thinker, who is the "energizer". The different levels of positive thinking are not harmonious. For example, such a conversation may be something like:

EXTRAORDINARY POSITIVE THINKER: This program is fantastic. The results we're getting are exceptional.
MEDIOCRE POSITIVE THINKER: Yes, it is quite good. EXTRAORDINARY POSITIVE THINKER: I'm very impressed with the concept. It's great.
MEDIOCRE POSITIVE THINKER: It's okay.

Compared to Optimal Thinking, these different levels of thinking are suboptimal.

There is another major problem with suboptimal positive thinking that many of us have experienced. Many suboptimal positive thinkers often judge, suppress and ignore negativity. Some only want to hear the good news and alienate themselves from any negative thoughts or feelings. Such a positive thinker may feel miserable about the outcome of a business situation but puts on a brave face at the office. You have probably heard this person say: "I don't want to hear any negativity from anyone today!"

Negative thoughts and feelings are not resolved. It's like putting a coat of fresh paint over rust. Eventually the paint peels off and the rust resurfaces. People in this situation are functioning from layers of unresolved problems. This produces low morale, inhibits productivity, lowers the effects of team work, creates stress and doesn't encourage anyone to function at their peak.

You may ask: "What is peak performance?" In my view, we function at our peak when we employ the most productive action at any given moment. As peak performers, we experience our ultimate level of performance by doing our best in every situation. Optimal Thinking provides the key. It is new and revolutionary. A quantum leap!

Optimal Thinking truly empowers our best self to take charge so that we can function at our peak. We can't function at our peak when we think in suboptimal terms. We function at our peak only when we think in Optimal terms. Let me show you what I mean ¡¦

With suboptimal positive thinking, we achieve good and great results. With Optimal Thinking, we achieve the best or greatest results. Suboptimal positive thinkers make sure their efforts are effective. Optimal Thinkers make sure they are most effective. Suboptimal positive thinkers work smart. Optimal Thinkers take the smartest approach to achieve what is most important. Suboptimal positive thinkers manage their resources, increase profits and improve performance. Optimal Thinkers optimize them!

Have you ever made any of the following statements? "What's the most productive use of my time right now?" or "How can I make the most of this situation?" or "I deserve the best in life"? If you have, you are already practicing some Optimal Thinking!

It is common sense to think Optimally but why don't we do it consistently? I kept asking myself this question, and finally, after 10 years of research, it all fell into place. I then created the term Optimal Thinking and the structure for this peak form of thinking to enable everyone to use it consistently. It's like once we know that blue and yellow make green, we can reproduce green consistently.

So Optimal Thinking was created to resolve four frustrations:
1. To overcome the problems positive thinkers and organizations can experience because of their different levels of thinking and communication.
2. To eliminate the judgment, denial and lack of resolution of negative thoughts and feelings that often occur with suboptimal positive thinking.
3. To give integrity to current peak performance guidelines.
4. To provide a structure for this peak form of thinking so that we can all use it consistently.

Fortunately, Optimal Thinking can be easily applied in every situation. For example, when communicating with others, suboptimal positive thinkers are satisfied with only a win-win situation. As Optimal Thinkers, we ask "What's BEST for you? What's BEST for me? and seek to satisfy the BEST interests of all concerned.

As Optimal Thinkers, we discover what the best means to our people, appeal to their best interests, stimulate in them the desire to be their best and then acknowledge them for doing their best.

In summary, Optimal Thinking empowers us to consistently experience life from an Optimal standpoint and provides the thinking that creates the best possible teamwork, optimizing time usage in all situations. Optimal Thinking simply gives us the best chance of achieving everything we want! And it's easily learned and applied instantly.

Times are tough. We live in a competitive world where second best is not good enough. Being good or even great is no longer enough. Let's optimize ourselves, let's optimize each other and together, let's optimize America!

Copyright 2001. The World Academy of Personal Development Inc. All rights reserved.








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Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D. Creator and Author of Optimal Thinking http://www.optimalthinking.com/ The global community for Optimal Thinkers. Optimize your life by making the most of your thinking

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