We've all heard the classic: "Is the glass empty or full?", but we may not realize the true power seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. It can have a far-reaching influence on everything from our day-to-day lives, selection of mate and friends, choice of career, and even our long-term success and happiness. That little voice in the back of your mind that whispers, "it's just not possible" instead of "anything is possible", or "what a great day" instead of "life bites" serves as a light, guiding us through the twists and turns of life decisions. And we may not even know it's there.

A pure optimist is a rare, and often disliked, specimen. We scoff at those continually chipper, upbeat Pollyannas who barely blink an eye at bad weather or the coffee shortage in the office machine. How can they not, we wonder, see the world for what it is - full of unpleasant annoyances and injustices? Well, the truth is they most likely realize that the earth and its people are flawed, but they simply choose to focus on the good things. And this outlook brings great benefits; better health, more energy, creativity, problem-solving abilities, the facility to hang in there in tough situations, and an overall sense of happiness. So, can we just turn on a little optimism switch in our minds and suddenly see the silver lining in every cloud? Unfortunately, it's not that simple - but there are ways to practice positivism so that it becomes a more natural response, and develop techniques for diminishing negativity. The Optimism Test will help you become aware of any tendencies you may have towards negativity so you can take steps to head in a sunnier direction.