Life Sutras: Be a chronic optimist no matter what!
Last updated on: January 24, 2012 10:42 IST



Citing a column by noted writer-humourist Khushwant Singh, we asked readers to mail us their 'Life Sutras' -- principles to lead life to the fullest. Here is the first set of responses.
'Be a chronic optimist no matter what!'
Research shows optimistic people have better physical health, mental health and life than people without optimism, according to US based reader Ashok Kumar Gupta, a consultant (Mental Health, Learning), certified life coach, certified NLP practitioner, trainer and author. Here is his point of view:
Things may not happen according to your preferences and desires. Your present situation may be worse and you are seeing only blind alleys all around. But, by being hopeful, you shall open a thin path in the midst of thick, dark clouds. Experts say life becomes what you expect it to.
The world-famous plastic surgeon Dr Maxwell Maltz discovered that the brain works on the principle of 'servo mechanism' to achieve what you believe you should achieve. If you expect good things to happen, most likely they will, to match your expectations.
On the other hand, if you think in terms of failure, the same principle applies.
My life was the worst back in the day. There seemed no way out -- bad health, failure, substance abuse, physical and mental abuse and what not. But I don't know why, I always had a vague image of a favourable life in the future, and that the situation would change for the better.
Amazingly, after 40 years, it has more or less landed on the right track, just as I had visualised.
During my childhood, I persistently imagined living in the USA despite a lack of any resources, money and background. For a person like me, then, the goal appeared impossible! Surprisingly, I migrated to the USA in 1992, overcoming rock-solid personal problems!
So never stop brightly picturing what you desire, even if you think that conditions will never be how you wish them to be. In the long term, your brain's above-referred special mechanism will keep working subconsciously, to produce what you are seeing on your mental screen and hope to receive.
Share your mantras for living life to the full with us, and other readers. Tell us how you stay happy and healthy, serene and full of life. Please send us an e-mail at getahead@rediff.co.in (Subject line: 'My Life Sutras'). And we will publish the best ones on Rediff.com.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

Tags: USA , NLP , Dr Maxwell Maltz , Ashok Kumar Gupta , Khushwant Singh
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Total Agreement
by ROLI KESARWANI (View MyPage) on Jan 27, 2012 01:27 PM

Very nice article. It's great help. Positive thinkers are great achievers cause they know how to achieve even the impossible. Thanks.

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'Be a chronic optimist no matter what!
by RASHMI KESARWANI (View MyPage) on Jan 27, 2012 11:57 AM

Its an exellent article writen by Mr. Ashok Gupta!!!!I too strongly believe on it.Positive thinking & believing makes your life better in every aspect & strengthens your your chances of achieving what you desire in life.

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Better life
by Tushar ROY (View MyPage) on Jan 27, 2012 08:48 AM

in whatever situation and/or financially you are,
join rajayoga meditation from Brahmakumaries it is free (7day 1hour programme) at a centre near your place.

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being chronic optimist is better than being pessimist
by shahid mubeen (View MyPage) on Jan 27, 2012 08:12 AM

we look before n after
and pine for what is not
our sincerest laughter
with some pain is fraught
our sweetest songs are those
that tell of saddest thought

yet i do agree that when we dream big amidst
gloom, there is always a wayout. where there is a will, there is a way. i proved that in my
life. i went abroad against all odds and unfavourable conditions bcoz i always think
optimistically.

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being chronic optimist is better than being pessimist
by shahid mubeen (View MyPage) on Jan 27, 2012 08:12 AM

we look before n after
and pine for what is not
our sincerest laughter
with some pain is fraught
our sweetest songs are those
that tell of saddest thought

yet i do agree that when we dream big amidst
gloom, there is always a wayout. where there is a will, there is a way. i proved that in my
life. i went abroad against all odds and unfavourable conditions bcoz i always think
optimistically.

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Life Sutras
by balakrishnan menon (View MyPage) on Jan 27, 2012 05:43 AM

Exellant article to give a optimistic attitude

towards Life.Cheers Rediff

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Optimism
by Nalin Misra (View MyPage) on Jan 25, 2012 02:12 PM

A very well written article. This is true for pessimism also because " thoughts are things". So you become what you think and you get what you are thinking about all the time and not what you want.

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Nalini Jagnat Kudalkar just put the right message
by Nischal Ever (View MyPage) on Jan 25, 2012 11:28 AM

OPTIMISM Should be on those lines.

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narinder Khanna nailed it all
by Nischal Ever (View MyPage) on Jan 25, 2012 11:26 AM

HAVE A DECENT BANK BALANCE. What is a commons mans definition of a DECENT BANK BALANCE? When does this rat race end about finding that decent bank balance and running a steady lifestyle. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER.

Optimism on the contrary is simply leading to further greed only. I would say that we should talk about being CONTENT in life rather than OPTIMISM.


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What is attitude?
by bihari babu (View MyPage) on Jan 25, 2012 11:14 AM

Attitude means the way you see things. dristikone. very simple.
most of indian spend whole day findiing fault in others, blame govt, neta, people. they get pleasur out of it. It make them feel little better from their own misery and dirty behaviour.
best way to be optimist is, never talk who is doing what. always ask this question, ''This is situation, what can I do to make it better.''.
This question will transform your life and living in india.

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Survival of the fittest.
by bihari babu (View MyPage) on Jan 25, 2012 11:10 AM

whoever give high quality product and service at cheaper rate will win in this global village. Obama cant do anything. why whole world hate china yet it has become biggest econeomic giaint? china has trillions of dollar in surplus. no country would dare to mess with them. why?
they are smart they just focus on cheap and better delivery. Obama lecture does not apply on them. its that simple. welcome to global village.



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nice article
by akanksha (View MyPage) on Jan 25, 2012 10:42 AM

thank you rediff for posting article on mental and spiritul health rather than ***.

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Good one
by preeti (View MyPage) on Jan 24, 2012 09:54 PM

Very nice article on mental health. In today fast world we have to keep in mind all these points written in the article this help us to achieve our goal for sure without getting distracted by obstacles.

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Optimists never give up
by saurabh kesarwani (View MyPage) on Jan 24, 2012 09:53 PM

It’s a really good article and I would totally agree with it.

Optimist always has faith in themselves and subconsciously works towards their goals. This is very true and even I would say from my experience that you can see beyond the difficult times by being an optimist. When you are an optimist then you would always make decisions that will help you reach towards your destination, as you believe that you will reach there. In not giving up you improve your chances of reaching your destination than someone who will stop trying as he is pessimistic.
Eventually people around you also change their attitude towards you and let you reach your desired destination rather than oppose you.


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Be a Chronic Optimist no matter what
by Jitendra Shaw (View MyPage) on Jan 24, 2012 09:40 PM

Very Good article and it shows the authors deep understanding of human psychology and universal spiritual laws

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Be a chronic optimist no matter what!'
by Samir Dhar (View MyPage) on Jan 24, 2012 08:07 PM

Very good and informative article. Gr8.

Optimists have a tendency to make lemons out of lemonade, and to then see the glass as half-full when it's half-empty. It's an admirable quality, one that can positively affect mental and physical health. Some optimists consistently ascribe benevolent motives to others and interpret situations in the best possible light, others simply disassociate their internal mood from external circumstances, no matter how sticky. Congo Mr. Gupta for sharing us the same.

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EXCELLENT ARTICLE
by ASHWANI BHAN (View MyPage) on Jan 26, 2012 02:50 PM

Rediff thanks very much for this article which is really good.I request you to keep us updated on latest findings of psychologists etc to help ous maintain a very hopeful,cheerful and optimistic attitude in life.Thanks once again.

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