Originally Posted by
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So true. Positive thinking is great, but this leads to a serious amount of apathy. I think you need to have a balance to live a successful life. Happiness is a mindset. I could make myself miserable or happy just by my thought process. You don’t need to focus on the negative all the time just be aware and not be satisfied with it.
I think apathy is a huge concern in aviation today; too many people are willing to just accept what ever is thrown at them. When someone points out something negative they get labeled as a negative thinker.
I make this my motto, Always be happy, but never satisfied with mediocrity.
I agree with this. Blind optimism untempered by reality sets you up to get blind-sided when the cold, hard facts inevitebly come home to roost.
I am optimistic, but I also consider the possible negatives and play devil's advocate. I do this not to dwell on the negatives, but to hopefully identify them in time to avoid them.
The most reliable software system ever devised was the space shuttle's main flight computers...this is due in large part to the existence of an agency at NASA whose sole purpose is to BREAK that software system. They are not happy until they can find faults, which can then be corrected. Focused, institutionalized negativity can be harnessed as a useful tool.