Visualize a glass. Fill it to the middle with milk. One child takes the glass and drinks, happy and content. A second child, even before taking the first sip, complains that the milk isn't enough because the glass is not full. Then Mother explains that the family is almost out of milk, so she's divided it equally. The first child finishes her milk. But the second child pushes the milk away and says, "Then why didn't you go to the store?"

Psychologists tell us that one's perception can equal reality. It's how we view the world that often makes it so, and the way we're wired internally can affect our perception. One person admires the beauty of a bed of roses. Another may automatically think, "But roses always have thorns..."

Seeing the glass as half empty is said to be pessimistic, and as half full, optimistic. But seeing a glass filled to the midpoint as 'enough' can also be viewed by some as 'complacent'. On the same theme, wanting a full glass could be a metaphor for 'wanting it all' - half is not enough for some, because it's only with a full measure that they feel satiated and content. It's not a question of thirst, but of a psychological desire not to feel cheated or short-changed.

Technically, a glass sitting on the kitchen table with no liquid poured inside is still 'full' of air. In a sense, that concept can be likened to the riddle of a Zen master: what is the sound of one hand clapping? Or, if a tree falls in the forest, does it still make a sound, even if there's no one to hear? Try and imagine Infinity. Because our world and we are finite, it can give us a headache!

But can we alter our basic, individual wiring, thereby modifying our perception of whether the glass is half empty or half full? Can an empty glass be viewed as a new challenge, such as 'What would I like to drink?' A crucial factor in cultivating Optimism is whether we feel in control. When the months of a new year are viewed as a series of blank pages that we can decide to fill as we wish, Life itself seems a vast terrain of unlimited possibilities.

Each of us has bad days, as in 'I think I got up on the wrong side of the bed,' when nothing seems rosy. Generally, we pull out of it, and develop a happier outlook. But should you feel utterly mired in doubt and negativity and can't seem to find the single, sturdy oak for the overwhelming forest of shadows, medication could be a solution for you. See a counselor, and explore your options for feeling better, more positive and in control of your life and what happens to you.

Remember that behavior and outlook can be changed, if you truly have the desire to make it happen.

Learn more about this author, Stephania Munson.
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