The Little Engine That Could…

Written by Judy W Bell on May 16, 2011. Posted in Managing Beliefs

What Optimism Brings to Your Life

An article that I read today on the recovering national job outlook made me reflect back to a beloved childhood book. Who hasn’t read, The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper?

The mantra throughout the story is, “I think I can, I think I can.” The story teaches the values of optimism, hard work, and determination. The story is about a long train that must be pulled over a very high mountain. After a number of larger engines declined to pull the train over the mountain, the “little engine” agreed to try.

The little engine was a success! And so was the book! Optimism is often defined as,

Optimism: having hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of a matter.

The word optimism comes from the Latin root, “best.” Again, referring to the expectation of the best possible outcome. Behavioral scientists often suggest that the trait of optimism is both hereditary (to a small degree) as well as a learned trait.

Optimism has been linked to increased health, improved job success, healthier relationships, and higher well-being. Improved optimism is a Success Habit