Efficacious Realism?

Since I was a kid, whenever I've heard bad news, my first response has been "well, that's awesome" or "great - now tell me the bad news." If you've known me for a while, you've heard this sentiment in one form or another.

Once accompanied by a healthy flavor of sarcasm, it gave way in recent years to a genuine search for empowerment versus disempowerment.

A friend lent me his copy of Tools of Titans Sunday. Contained within it is a contribution by former Navy Seal Jocko Willink, simply entitled, "Good." Not to be confused with the old school Power of Positive Thinking, he details how bad news is A perspective. There is always some opportunity within it as a realist, not optimist.

As he says:

- Didn't get promoted? Good. More time to improve.

- Didn't get the project or mission? Good. More time to prepare.

- Got injured? Good. Needed a break from training.

- New problem? Good. Chance to create new solution.
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No matter how bad, news is life. We can cultivate our skill at handling it instead of getting stuck in a hoped-for fantasy which isn't real. This isn't optimism versus pessimism. This is efficacy versus hopelessness.