Is Your Glass Half-full or Half-empty?

The question of whether the glass is half full or half empty has been a topic of neverending debates whether between scientists or philosophers.

But for the purpose of this article, I want to look at it differently and help you realise it may be a wrong question altogether.

First of all, are YOU more of a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of person?
In other words are you an optimist or pessimist?

If we look at the glass as a metaphor for life, a glass-half-full person, an optimist, is generally more appreciative, has a more positive outlook on life, and so is focusing on the fact that the glass is half full. 

A glass-half-empty pessimist is focusing on the fact that the glass is not as full as it could be. Pessimists tend to focus on and so see the negatives in life. And if they cannot see them, they assume them. They don’t expect things to work out and so they worry and struggle with stress and anxiety.

I’ve heard a great quote about pessimism.

If you worry, you suffer twice.

Isn’t it true?

The point of this article, however, is not to debate optimism and pessimism or whether the glass is half full or half empty.

I think there is a more important question you should ask yourself.

Does what’s in the glass quench your thirst?

It’s so easy to get caught up in the chase after full glass, especially when we spend so much time on Instagram, Facebook and other social media.

We’re being bombarded with versions of success you should have, in the form of sixpack, Lamborghini(s), big houses and money to burn.

In reality, most people just want to do something they love for a living, be in a fulfilling relationship, have a circle of true friends, time for their hobbies, be happy and healthy, and in the majority of cases, be part of something meaningful.

So in the world of oversized glasses, make sure you’re filling your one with something that will quench your thirst. Because then even if your glass is 1/4 full, it can still “hit the stop”. You can still strive to fill up your glass. There’s nothing wrong with it. 

Be happy with what you have while striving for more, a.k.a. being blissfully dissatisfied.

As a life coach, I’ve spoken to quite a few people who’ve been working themselves to the ground, clocking insane hours in corporate jobs because that’s what everyone else was doing, filling up their glass to the rim, just to realise ten years later that the glass is full of tar. What’s that good for?

If that’s you, great, use the tar to asphalt your way for a quick escape out of that rut. (That’s the optimist in me speaking.)

On a serious note, take time to figure out what your definition of success is and what makes you happy. How much time? Until you figure it out OR until you find at least a direction of what it could be.

If you’re not sure if what you discovered would be the right new direction, just go and explore it. Find out more about it.
Be patient, you have time, life is long.

Make sure you’re putting as much as possible of what you love and as little as possible of what you don’t like into your glass.

It’s not that hard. It’s about saying NO to the things and people who make you miserable and saying YES to the things and people who make you happy.

A great life is a process of filtering and distilling.
Out with the bad, in with the good. Repeat.

This process will never end as “impurities” will always try to sneak into your glass.

Work on understanding who you are and what you want. 

Create the life you will love.
Be patient.
Work on it every day.
Little by little. You’ll get there. 

If you need the support of a life coach, you’re always welcome to contact me and let’s find out if we’d be the right match.