Half Full or Half Empty?

My inspiration for this week's post came from a Landmark friend who wondered if seeing all happiness, optimism and upbeat from me is misleading?  When we talked, she questioned whether I was perhaps hiding my feelings.  I am so thankful for her trusting that I would welcome her input and appreciate her view.  

I loved thinking about this and would like to share my thoughts.

I definitely feel the whole range of feelings, as do most people.  I have had plenty of sad times and experienced physical and emotional pain.....and disappointment and anger and jealousy and fear...and the list goes on.  

At the same time, my default nature is positive, upbeat and optimistic.  Half full is a minimum threshold for me, with the 'low fuel' light going on as I pass the half full mark.

I like being a 'full glass', and I enjoy sharing with others when my spirits and joy are overflowing.  I want to feel abundance, joy, love and radiance.  

As soon as I start depleting, I get in some type of action - even if that 'action' is sleep - something that will start refilling and restoring my spirits, so that I can fulfill my natural tendency to want to give and be loving to myself and to others.  

For me, I am most comfortable in the 'up' side of life, and I am rather uncomfortable in a 'down' state.  Over time, I've learned how to manage and cope with the 'lows' in such a way that they really do not last very long before I am again gaining positive momentum.  I feel the emotions, acknowledge them, and then I focus on moving to a more positive state.  Yoga has also been a big help.

I've also observed that people are different in this regard.  We all share the human experience of a wide range of emotions, and I believe we all want to be happy.  

There are people who cope and are more comfortable hanging out in the sad or low, nearly empty state for longer periods of time.  They outwardly may not appear happy, but may in fact be quite content.  Expressing through complaints and a seemingly pessimistic view is often their way of sharing and realism in their view.  

Half full or half empty are equally valid ways of being, and there is not a right or wrong in your way of being.

My friend's input was quite intuitive and it has been true, that I've been guarded in what feelings I've shown, with all but a select few people in my life.  And it is true, that in the past, I would avoid seeing people, rather than share my 'lows'.  

Yet even those that have seen my lowest states would attest to my being an optimistic person.  

In sharing the happy, optimistic, upbeat Me, I may not have shared all my ranges of emotion with everyone.  I've not however, been misleading or hiding my true self.  

Happy, optimistic and upbeat are accurate descriptors of me.  Sharing all of my emotions with everyone is coming much easier for me these days, thanks to the Landmark Forum. 

Unless you live with me though, it will be tough to catch some of those down emotions from me.  Not because I never have them, and not because I'm hiding them - just because they don't stay around very long in my life.

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