Both! I believe that we are born with a certain temperament. Research into early brain development shows that the “wiring” in our brain is a result of experiences in early childhood. If we live in an optimistic environment we are more likely to become an optimistic adult.
I believe attitude and how we perceive events and circumstances is learned–initially from the people who are around us when we are children. When we begin having individual thoughts, we can make different choices about how we perceive those same events. Sometimes becoming optimistic is a matter of “fake it ’til you make it.”
I believe in Optimism. I think we become optimistic by choice.
I think we first learn from our environment, then in our teens and twenties we erase those values that do not fit and learn from life lessons. We can turn our life lessons into optimistic or pessimistic.
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Both! I believe that we are born with a certain temperament. Research into early brain development shows that the “wiring” in our brain is a result of experiences in early childhood. If we live in an optimistic environment we are more likely to become an optimistic adult.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:07 am
I believe attitude and how we perceive events and circumstances is learned–initially from the people who are around us when we are children. When we begin having individual thoughts, we can make different choices about how we perceive those same events. Sometimes becoming optimistic is a matter of “fake it ’til you make it.”
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I believe in Optimism. I think we become optimistic by choice.
I think we first learn from our environment, then in our teens and twenties we erase those values that do not fit and learn from life lessons. We can turn our life lessons into optimistic or pessimistic.