Be Optimistic in Life: Walt Disney Essay

Specific Purpose: To encourage my audience to be optimistic in life

Central Idea: Being optimistic in life causes positive emotions that contribute to good health and happiness.

Introduction

The Attention Step

1. An editor once fired Walt Disney, the co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, for allegedly lacking imagination and good ideas (National Fastpitch Coaches Association 27). However, he remained optimistic and went on to become an icon in the American animation industry.
   1. Walt Disney did not allow the frustrations to ruin his animation dreams.
   2. How many times have you been frustrated, rejected, abused, and told that you are useless? Did you let the negative experiences define your future? Do you always feel insecure, hated, or worthless?
   3. If you have let your negative experiences interfere with your dreams and esteem, you need to change your thoughts and perceptions. It is the time you became optimistic.
2. I have become interested in this topic after experiencing changes in my life.
3. Optimism changes an individual’s attitude by creating positive emotions, which contribute to good health and happiness.

What are the advantages of maintaining an optimistic view of life?

Body

The Need Step

1. Every person experiences bad and discouraging moments (Erasmus par 2).
   1. Seventy-seven percent of Americans experience physical symptoms caused by stress (The American Institute of Stress par. 4).
   2. How many times have you collided with your boss, spouses, family members, and coworkers? How many times have you had your dreams frustrated by other people?
   3. I am sure that all of you have thought of giving up at one point in your life.
2. College life has many stressors that can affect the students’ confidence, emotions, and self-esteem.
   1. We always let the negative experiences interfere with our emotions and perceptions.
   2. We hate ourselves for failing to achieve our goals.

We should start taking control of our emotions by being optimistic in all situations.

The Satisfaction Step

1. Optimism creates happiness and leads to good health
   1. You can become an optimist in many ways
   2. Start by letting go of all negative assumptions that you currently hold about yourself, or the sources of stress.
   3. You should understand that the past does not have any control over the future. What you believe in and hold as true, defines your future.
   4. Be positive in all situations and stop seeing yourself as an effect of circumstances.
   5. Be active to divert your mind from the negative perceptions and frustrations.
   6. Exercises and physical activities are also essential in keeping the body healthy.
2. According to Carver, optimism creates good health and happiness (4502).
   1. Being optimistic creates good emotions that are responsible for elevating human spirits and causing good health.
   2. Optimistic people have the capability of making greater risks without worrying about negative outcomes. They are always successful in their lives.

Start by evaluating your current emotions. Are you frustrated by anything or anyone?

The Visualization Step

1. Take a deep breath and forget about your frustrating past.
2. Imagine that every frustration is a step closer to your success.

Conclusion

The Action Step

1. Optimism creates good emotions that contribute to good health and happiness.
2. According to Carver, optimistic individuals are always successful, happy, and healthier than pessimists are (4501).
   1. Start appreciating the positive issues in your life
   2. Stop associating your past with your current situation. Remember you are not an effect of circumstances
   3. Be active and positive in everything you do.
3. Frustrations will never end. However, when you remain optimistic, you will always stay healthy and happy.

Works Cited

Carver, Charles. “Optimism.” Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research (2014): 4500-4503. Print.

Erasmus, Susan. 41 major life stressors. 2013. Web.

National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The Softball Coaching Bible, Volume II. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2013. Print.

The American Institute of Stress. “People are disturbed not by a thing, but by their perception of a thing”: Epictetus. 2014. Web.