Chapter3 and 4: Optimism and reality/ Stamina (Week4 catch up)

Strategy3
Instill optimism and self-confidence but stay grounded in reality

This chapter helped me to decide my research writing topic. I think many people aware an importance of positive thinking and being optimistic as chapter said “But if there is one quality…it is the ability to remain optimistic…”(40). However, I found it is hard for some people (including myself) and for some situations for constantly being positive. The good news is that positive thinking can be cultivated by practice like “self-talk”. We should put more attention to what we say to ourselves and send positive message to ourselves. An important message is that even if we do not have positive thinking in nature, we can try and cultivate positive thinking. (“learned optimism”)

Personally, I am not good at being optimistic toward things I do, but recognizing a connection between physical act and psychological condition which I talk in Chapter4, is huge step for me to understand truly an importance of positive thinking.

 

Strategy4
Take care of yourself. Maintain your stamina and let go of your guilt

I totally agree with Shackleton for an importance of maintaining stamina, because I personally believe that “taking care of myself” is really an essential thing in life. As a leader, “…you are the foundation of your expedition…” (57), so you have to take care of others with self-sacrifices, but it is also important to take care of yourself because“…your team will take their cues from your behavior.”(57).

I have been unwell for a year after finishing my first freshman semester and wonderful summer holidays in September 2012. At that time, I could not see my capacity for controlling busy life, and could not maintain stamina. Furthermore, I found it is hardest thing on earth to let go of guilt with my failures and mistakes. Because I started feeling quite depressed with myself and everything I did, my body started working inactively. After couple of months of depression, I finally realized my body condition effect my mind, and other way around too. With good medication and seeing doctor, I learned an importance of knowing my own capacity (physical and psychological limits), maintaining stamina by being physically active, and accepting myself even when I made mistakes and failures. It sounds easy to achieve these things, but it is difficult to actually recognizing an importance, that they are substantial things in daily life. I consider it is rare for every great leader to have perfect health and boundless energy, so I assume they make sure to maintain their stamina and guilt for both themselves and people around them. As good example by Shackleton, he made sure to keep clues stamina physically and psychologically with a great balance of cheering up(food), as well as to control emotional conditions by dealing with guilt.

Without being well myself physically and psychologically, I cannot achieve anything.