| There are few things as frustrating as trying to find | | | | Only with a clear head can you realize that you have |
| something that you need quickly. Just the other night, I | | | | everything you need at this moment to get exactly |
| was packing my gym bag with the next day's outfit | | | | that for which you are searching. This |
| and realized I couldn't find my pair of black shoes - the | | | | easy-to-understand concept goes far beyond the |
| pair of black shoes I hadn't worn in over a month. | | | | situations that require physical searching on your part. |
| Worry began to set in as I looked for them. My | | | | Regardless of your goal, you are more likely to |
| searching became frantic as I continued to check the | | | | achieve it when you bypass negativity and keep your |
| closet by the back door, my bedroom closet, and | | | | mental path clear through disciplined optimism. It |
| everywhere in between. Each time I checked the | | | | certainly is easy to fall victim to the negative |
| same place, my frustration grew. I attacked every | | | | happenings that occur everyday. Often, we are so full |
| nook like a Spartan in battle, but victory eluded me. | | | | of dormant negative feelings that it takes little more |
| After nearly an hour of tearing apart the house, I | | | | than a bad driver on the way to work to start the day |
| realized how my elevated, negative mood was not | | | | off on the wrong foot. These negative emotions |
| getting me any closer to finding the shoes. | | | | prevent us from seeing the opportunities and solutions |
| I sunk into the couch, accepting defeat and trying to | | | | that would solve most of our problems. By allowing |
| put the missing shoes out of my mind. Sitting there, I | | | | ourselves to become overrun with negativity, we are |
| laughed as I replayed the events in my mind. At that | | | | actually preventing good things from showing |
| moment, I realized I hadn't checked the upstairs closet. | | | | themselves. We worry about making the next sale |
| There was no reason for a pair of shoes to be in the | | | | and miss the opportunity or insight that would unlock |
| upstairs closet, but I had nothing to lose by checking | | | | the sale. |
| one last place. As I opened the closet door, I saw a | | | | We worry about being stuck in a job we don't like and |
| bag I had used on a recent business trip. Inside the bag | | | | fail to realize everything we need to be happy is sitting |
| were the missing shoes. Carrying the shoes | | | | right before our eyes. Our tolerance of negativity |
| downstairs, I admitted to my family, whom I had | | | | perpetuates our intolerance of our current |
| blamed earlier for the disappearance, that I was the | | | | circumstances. In essence, our tolerance of, and natural |
| person responsible for misplacing the shoes. The | | | | gravitation towards, negativity holds us captive within |
| situation was my fault, yet in my overblown time of | | | | its grasp. Disciplined optimism simply requires that we |
| crisis, I regrettably turned to blame. I allowed mental | | | | clear our eyes and open our ears so that we can |
| obstacles to cloud my thinking, making the search all | | | | become more perceptive and see the day's less |
| the more difficult. Similar events happen often in | | | | obvious opportunities. This new outlook can help you |
| everyday life. | | | | see that much of what gets you pointed in the wrong |
| We allow ourselves to fall victim to everyday | | | | direction isn't nearly as powerful as it is perceived. As |
| negativity. By doing so, we prevent ourselves from | | | | you keep your mental canvas clear, you will quickly |
| finding everyday opportunity. A clear head is a direct | | | | realize you are able to strengthen your career, |
| result of disciplined optimism, and it is only with a clear | | | | discover new ideas, and, if nothing else, find your |
| head that you are able to make the best decisions. | | | | missing pair of shoes. |