Pollyannaism
I didn’t even know this was a thing. Until today.
I started some mental meandering on who the most classic optimist is/was. Pollyanna (from the 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter) is the archetype. But I had no idea that there is a whole “principle” bearing this character’s name. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the Pollyanna Principle (courtesy of the all-knowing Wikipedia):
The Pollyanna principle (also called Pollyannaism or positivity bias) is the tendency for people to remember pleasant items more accurately than unpleasant ones. Research indicates that, at the subconscious level, the mind has a tendency to focus on the optimistic while, at the conscious level, it has a tendency to focus on the negative. This subconscious bias towards the positive is often described as the Pollyanna principle.
The positivity bias pertains mostly to how we remember past events… we tend to remember them more positively than we anticipate the future (on a conscious level, anyway). I was struck by how true I find that to be in my own life. My pessimism seems largely contained to my feelings on the future. (Though I’ve been known to overanalyze things in my immediate past… i.e. “I hope that I didn’t sound too mean/rude/dumb.”)
It made me think about more of Paul’s words to the Philippians. In chapter 3, he speaks at length about our righteousness, obtained by faith in Jesus, not our flesh. He goes on to say that he hasn’t achieved righteousness but presses on, trying to take hold of it with every fiber of his being:
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:13b,14 ESV
I find it encouraging that Paul is committed to forgetting what’s behind him (his legalistic righteousness) and he strains for what lies ahead. He’s determined that the goal (the righteousness of Christ) is more important that all that’s gone before, and worth every bit of his sufferings. Yet, he also acknowledges that it will be an effort, a struggle to lay hold of it. Even if my propensity to see things negatively colors my view of the future (pessimism), I want to strain toward it, because God will accomplish His work in my life (faith, not optimism).
I’d like to adopt Paul’s view in my daily life, not Pollyanna’s. I’d like to forget what’s behind me instead of remembering it more positively than it actually occurred.
And I’d like to consciously pursue the future without concern for the positive or negative, but with faith.
[Tweet “Strain forward with faith, not just optimism. #thinkonthesethings #write31days”]
This post is part of a 31 day series entitled “Think on these things: Learning optimism.” For a full catalog of all the posts, visit the first page in the series by clicking here.
[…] Series Introduction (you’re here!) Thinkin’ and Thinkin’ The Bright Side Let’s do Lunch Or… Borrowed Glasses True /tro͞o/ Necessarily Negative On the road to happily every after Pure /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism […]
[…] Series Introduction (you’re here!) Thinkin’ and Thinkin’ The Bright Side Let’s do Lunch Or… Borrowed Glasses True /tro͞o/ Necessarily Negative On the road to happily every after Pure /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism […]
[…] Series Introduction (you’re here!) Thinkin’ and Thinkin’ The Bright Side Let’s do Lunch Or… Borrowed Glasses True /tro͞o/ Necessarily Negative On the road to happily every after Pure /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism […]
[…] Series Introduction (you’re here!) Thinkin’ and Thinkin’ The Bright Side Let’s do Lunch Or… Borrowed Glasses True /tro͞o/ Necessarily Negative On the road to happily every after Pure /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism […]
[…] Series Introduction (you’re here!) Thinkin’ and Thinkin’ The Bright Side Let’s do Lunch Or… Borrowed Glasses True /tro͞o/ Necessarily Negative On the road to happily every after Pure /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism […]
[…] Series Introduction (you’re here!) Thinkin’ and Thinkin’ The Bright Side Let’s do Lunch Or… Borrowed Glasses True /tro͞o/ Necessarily Negative On the road to happily every after Pure /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism […]
And he’s even telling us it is difficult… straining forward in faith. Difficult, but not impossible, because we all know what comes in the next chapter, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
You noticed that, too, huh, Lauren? Difficult. But worthwhile. And yes, all things through Christ. I’m falling in love with Philippians all over again. 🙂
And he’s even telling us it is difficult… straining forward in faith. Difficult, but not impossible, because we all know what comes in the next chapter, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
You noticed that, too, huh, Lauren? Difficult. But worthwhile. And yes, all things through Christ. I’m falling in love with Philippians all over again. 🙂
And he’s even telling us it is difficult… straining forward in faith. Difficult, but not impossible, because we all know what comes in the next chapter, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
You noticed that, too, huh, Lauren? Difficult. But worthwhile. And yes, all things through Christ. I’m falling in love with Philippians all over again. 🙂
I found a quote today and I thought of you. Has the word “idealist” cropped up in your study? You could examine, perhaps, the differences between idealists and optimists? You know I don’t like the two words “optimism” and “pessimism” used as opposites on a spectrum, but I do think that it takes a lot of innate creativity and panache for improvisation in life to be what some would call optimistic. Here’s the quote I saw that made me think of your 31 Days topic: “When bobbing for apples, an idealist endlessly reaches for the best apple, a pessimist settles for the first one within reach, while an optimist drains the barrel, fishes out all the apples and makes pie.” I don’t think the pessimist part of this makes any sense, but the last part made me laugh, because the people I know who look at the opportunities seem to always CREATE more opportunities for themselves, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and make choices without second-guessing. I know a lot of self-proclaimed pessimists that don’t seem to do those things as readily. Might just be their nature – I don’t know.
I found a quote today and I thought of you. Has the word “idealist” cropped up in your study? You could examine, perhaps, the differences between idealists and optimists? You know I don’t like the two words “optimism” and “pessimism” used as opposites on a spectrum, but I do think that it takes a lot of innate creativity and panache for improvisation in life to be what some would call optimistic. Here’s the quote I saw that made me think of your 31 Days topic: “When bobbing for apples, an idealist endlessly reaches for the best apple, a pessimist settles for the first one within reach, while an optimist drains the barrel, fishes out all the apples and makes pie.” I don’t think the pessimist part of this makes any sense, but the last part made me laugh, because the people I know who look at the opportunities seem to always CREATE more opportunities for themselves, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and make choices without second-guessing. I know a lot of self-proclaimed pessimists that don’t seem to do those things as readily. Might just be their nature – I don’t know.
I found a quote today and I thought of you. Has the word “idealist” cropped up in your study? You could examine, perhaps, the differences between idealists and optimists? You know I don’t like the two words “optimism” and “pessimism” used as opposites on a spectrum, but I do think that it takes a lot of innate creativity and panache for improvisation in life to be what some would call optimistic. Here’s the quote I saw that made me think of your 31 Days topic: “When bobbing for apples, an idealist endlessly reaches for the best apple, a pessimist settles for the first one within reach, while an optimist drains the barrel, fishes out all the apples and makes pie.” I don’t think the pessimist part of this makes any sense, but the last part made me laugh, because the people I know who look at the opportunities seem to always CREATE more opportunities for themselves, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and make choices without second-guessing. I know a lot of self-proclaimed pessimists that don’t seem to do those things as readily. Might just be their nature – I don’t know.
I found a quote today and I thought of you. Has the word “idealist” cropped up in your study? You could examine, perhaps, the differences between idealists and optimists? You know I don’t like the two words “optimism” and “pessimism” used as opposites on a spectrum, but I do think that it takes a lot of innate creativity and panache for improvisation in life to be what some would call optimistic. Here’s the quote I saw that made me think of your 31 Days topic: “When bobbing for apples, an idealist endlessly reaches for the best apple, a pessimist settles for the first one within reach, while an optimist drains the barrel, fishes out all the apples and makes pie.” I don’t think the pessimist part of this makes any sense, but the last part made me laugh, because the people I know who look at the opportunities seem to always CREATE more opportunities for themselves, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and make choices without second-guessing. I know a lot of self-proclaimed pessimists that don’t seem to do those things as readily. Might just be their nature – I don’t know.
My youth especially those who are runners often pick that verse as their Confirmation verse. I’m not a runner but I think I get it . I recently walked my first 5K. It wasn’t easy but was worth it to see the finish line. Faith is a journey and the ultimate prize is found in God and Gods love for us. God is with us during those hard times. So cool!
I AM a runner and I so understand Paul’s concept of “straining” toward the finish line. We must press on, mustn’t we. 🙂
My youth especially those who are runners often pick that verse as their Confirmation verse. I’m not a runner but I think I get it . I recently walked my first 5K. It wasn’t easy but was worth it to see the finish line. Faith is a journey and the ultimate prize is found in God and Gods love for us. God is with us during those hard times. So cool!
I AM a runner and I so understand Paul’s concept of “straining” toward the finish line. We must press on, mustn’t we. 🙂
My youth especially those who are runners often pick that verse as their Confirmation verse. I’m not a runner but I think I get it . I recently walked my first 5K. It wasn’t easy but was worth it to see the finish line. Faith is a journey and the ultimate prize is found in God and Gods love for us. God is with us during those hard times. So cool!
I AM a runner and I so understand Paul’s concept of “straining” toward the finish line. We must press on, mustn’t we. 🙂
My youth especially those who are runners often pick that verse as their Confirmation verse. I’m not a runner but I think I get it . I recently walked my first 5K. It wasn’t easy but was worth it to see the finish line. Faith is a journey and the ultimate prize is found in God and Gods love for us. God is with us during those hard times. So cool!
I AM a runner and I so understand Paul’s concept of “straining” toward the finish line. We must press on, mustn’t we. 🙂
My youth especially those who are runners often pick that verse as their Confirmation verse. I’m not a runner but I think I get it . I recently walked my first 5K. It wasn’t easy but was worth it to see the finish line. Faith is a journey and the ultimate prize is found in God and Gods love for us. God is with us during those hard times. So cool!
I AM a runner and I so understand Paul’s concept of “straining” toward the finish line. We must press on, mustn’t we. 🙂