Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

We often hear people talking about whether someone's glass is half full or half empty, which is really a metaphor for how someone views their life or the world around them. If someone is negative or pessimistic, people might regard them as seeing their glass half empty. When people view their glass as half empty, they are looking at what they don't have instead of what they do. If someone is positive and optimistic, people would say they see their glass as being half full. Half of their glass may be empty, but they choose to look at it as half full. They are seeing what they have instead of what they don't. Which type of person are you? Do you see your glass as half full or half empty?

If you are the type of person who sees your glass as half empty, think about what might be behind this thought. Have you always been negative and pessimistic or is this a new way of viewing life and the world around you? If this is a relatively new experience, perhaps it is temporary and will work itself out. However, if this feeling persists or you have always viewed your glass as half empty, here are some things you can do to fill the emptiness, and start seeing your glass as half full.

1. Get a checkup. Find out if there is anything physical or hormonal that is going on that may prevent you from feeling your best. When you are not feeling well, it is hard to be positive and optimistic.

2. If you rule out any physical or hormonal problems, investigate your mental or emotional status. If you are going through a divorce, recently lost a loved one or job, or are experiencing some other type of negative or depressing situation, then it might be hard for you to see your glass as half full. However, if there is not a specific situation or event that is preventing you from being positive or optimistic, then you might want to seek counseling or therapy to work through childhood issues or past experiences that were unhappy or traumatic in some manner.

3. By seeing your glass as half empty, you may be experiencing some type of emptiness in your life. Are you alone or lonely and desire companionship or a partner? Are you unhappy with your job, family, partner, or where you are living? Do you feel disconnected from others? Examine those areas in your life that you perceive as being empty. What can you do to fill the void in these areas? For example, if you don't like your job, consider exploring other jobs that interest you. If you don't possess the knowledge or skills to get the type of job you desire, explore options for going back to school or getting the training you need so you can apply for those jobs that interest you.

4. Develop a list of those things that you can do for yourself that would make you feel better. For instance, if you like to exercise and know that it increases your energy level and emotional well-being, then set aside time on a regular basis to exercise. If treating yourself to a nice dinner once a week makes you happy, then save money to ensure this happens on a weekly basis. Invite a close friend to join you. Not only will you enjoy a great meal, but you will have a good friend to share it with.

5. Develop a game plan to tackle the empty areas in your life. For example, if you are single and lonely, develop a plan as to how you are going to meet potential partners. You can start off by letting your friends know you are on the market again, you could join a dating club, or you could place an ad online. Develop specific goals to achieve your plan but start out with small steps, such as attempting only one activity at a time, so finding a new partner is not overwhelming.

6. No matter what is going on in your life, always remember what you have and how lucky you are to have it. I always thank God for having a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my mouth. So, even if you don't have exactly what you desire in life at this time, remember to look at what you do have and to be grateful. When you are constantly being thankful for what you have, it is difficult to see the glass as being half empty.

If you are the type of person who sees your glass as half empty, explore what is going on. Get a checkup so you can rule out any possible physical problems. Assess whether your perception of a half empty glass is temporary or has a long history. Explore those areas in your life in which you are experiencing emptiness; make a list of activities that would make you feel better; develop a game plan, with specific goals, to address and fill the empty areas in your life; and be thankful for everything that you do have. By taking these steps, you'll begin to start seeing your glass as half full.

Copyright 2010 © Sharon L. Mikrut, All rights reserved.