Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

You Be The Judge.

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This morning, I’m conducting a little research for an article I’m writing on the optimism of Canadians in times of hardship, defeat or despair. The driving force behind the essay is the upcoming 2014 Olympics, and the delicate balance between hope, hard work and results – or acceptance.

As a group, Canadians are mostly optimistic. According to a recent poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of CTV News, in 2013:

79 per cent of Canadians ranked themselves in good health
72 per cent of Canadians believed their social life was adequate
61 per cent of Canadians were happy with their financial situation
60 per cent of Canadians enjoyed their sexual or romantic life

And in 2014, 85 per cent of working Canadians believe 2014 will be good for their job and career.

Show of Hands: Do you see the glass as half-full, or half-empty?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 2013 wasn’t the best year in our household but I’m optimistic that 2014 will be a better year for us so I’m looking at the glass as being half-full.

  3. my DH says there is no such thing as a realist. you’re either optimistic or pessimistic. Interesting food for thought all of this!

  4. Half full, even in rough/bad times there are always good things! You may just have to look harder to find them. No matter what is going on “it could always be worse” so better to stay optimistic :)

  5. 2013 was an awful year – especially for my daughter and son-in-law and their family – health related mainly. I have a feeling it was “the year of the snake” (which was supposed to be really bad for people born in the year of the snake – my son-in-law, oldest granddaughter and my newest grandson). And those are the 3 people the issues revolved around. Thankfully January 31 is the start of a new Chinese year and most likely the turning point for their string of “bad luck”.
    For me, I am always optimistic that things will get better and these “bad times” are put in our paths to test our strength of character :)

    • I’m sorry to hear it wasn’t that great. I certainly couldn’t tell – you are always pleasant and sweet in your comments! Looking forward to a year filled with good luck for you :)

  7. I am looking at this glass as half-full because I hoping for a better 2014. I keep telling my kids, whatever they are complaining about, there are kids out there who have nothing, so give thanks for what they have. Here’s to being optimistic!

  8. Always half full, I really like the saying that “attitude is everything” because I truly believe some people could change their lives for the better by changing their attitude. That includes me!

  13. I have a underlying tendency to worry so the glass is often half-empty but I am working to make it half-full.

  14. I look at it as half-full. Life is tough, but there are a lot of positives, and you can gain strength from thinking of them.

  15. Hi Lena,

    This is a good question for me and for my community. We, as a community, were flooded and many are still not “home”. For our family, we were so fortunate to be only 2 and 3 months out, although there are still many things needed to be done for full clean up.

    One of the most wonderful feelings of the “Half Full” was the small mundane things that happened after. Like the first time we were able to turn on our heat. Or use our new washing machine…or for that matter just go into our basement. Then there was the sweet memories of receiving a Timmy’s card or a hand made quilt.

    I believe Canadians are a Half Full kind of people!

    InezbyDesign

    • Inez, I’m so sorry to hear about your recent misfortune, but the way you (and your community) have emerged from it tells the real story. You’re right – it’s finding the positive and good in “mundane” things that make all the difference :)

  18. It’s hard to answer this question. I do feel like I’m a realist who looks at a situation and judges it, and sometimes a situation is just pretty clearly something I don’t want. I also feel like I’m not the type of person who gets “down” about it; rather, I kind of use that judgment to fuel my next thoughts of “what can I change about it?” and “what is in my control?”