Moment-to-Moment Optimism

 By Dr. Russ

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day when I issue TIPS to "BUSSTERIZE" any pessimism standing in the way of maximizing your optimism in the week ahead.  Today’s Busster's are drawn from the optimistic opportunity to make your predictions about which teams will win in the NCAA 2010 Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Yesterday, the NCAA tournament brackets were announced for a field of 65 teams that will compete for a National Title over the next 3 weeks. Every newspaper in America has a full page insert listing the brackets. 

We are all invited to make our predictions about which teams will win in each round.  We have the opportunity to enter an office or family pool.

Ten NCAA Basketball Bracket Filler Bussters

1.    No need to worry, “Just forget about perfection.”  You have a one in 9 quadrillion chance of completing the bracket perfectly (i.e., picking the winner of every game).  You have a better chance of picking the winner of every U.S.  Presidential race through 2256.
2.    Really want to win? Then be very strategic and always pick the lower seed which will make you right 87% to 90% of the time. 
3.    "What fun is picking the lower seed," you ask?  It probably isn’t fun unless you simply want to win the office pool.  If you want to have fun, you will have to pick a few upsets and TAKE A RISK.  You can at least have some fun in thinking you are smarter than the experts.
4.    Tune out the Pundits and the Nay-sayers who accuse the NCAA selection committee of making mistakes in rankings and bracket placements.  These sportscasters are on the outside looking in.  I wonder how their attitude would change if they were on the inside looking out.
5.    Underdogs do win. A “perfect” seeding would mean that the Final Four would be composed of all four number one seeds which has occurred only once in tournament history, March 30, 2008.
6.    Jim Valvano’s “Cardiac Kids” from North Carolina State came from behind to beat Houston to win the NCAA championship game in 1983; one of the great Cinderella stories in tournament history.  At the end, Valvano ran all over the court looking for someone to hug.  For optimistic inspiration check out this two and a half minute video summary of the game. 
7.    Turn to another NCAA feel good story.  Al McGuire announced his retirement from college basketball coaching during the 1977 season.  His Marquette team, clear underdogs in the NCAA tournament, rewarded their coach who had come so close so often with his only NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship.
8.    Have some fun, be a “homer” and pick your favorite team.  As you fill out your bracket, imagine and visualize the wins, better yet a few upsets, all the way to winning the championship.  Just remember not to wager a lot of money.
9.    FUN is the operative word as you get a chance to interact with friends, family and coworkers around a three week event that serves as a KEY distraction from everyday problems of life.
10.    You can of course eliminate all worry from your “bracketology” exercise by filling out multiple bracket entries, one by the seeding, one for the “homer,” one by your seven year old, one by your intuition,  and one by coin flips.


By Dr. Russ,

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day; the day I offer up TIPS TO BUSST-UP any PESSIMISM facing you as you look to the week ahead.  Today I draw on last night’s OSCAR AWARDS to generate this week’s BUSSTERS.

Optimistic Bussters Inspired by 2010 Academy Award Ceremony 

{The idea here is to read the Busster and tune into the optimistic thoughts and feelings each inspires in you in the MOMENT}

1.    Nice guys like Jeff Bridges do finish first.

• Nobody, but NOBODY who's worked with Jeff Bridges has a bad word to say about him. "I've never, ever heard of him pulling a star turn or showing any ego", said Peter Bogdanovich, director of The Last Picture Show. 

2.    Optimists keep perfecting their craft:

• "It's like watching a diamond cutter," said John Goodman, Bridges co-star in The Big Lebowski, "When you look at the diamond, you don't think of the work, you just notice there's no flaws". The New Yorker summed him up very simply as "the best actor alive".

3.    Jeff Bridges was likely parented with optimism as his Dad would sit with him at bedtime and review acting lines and strategies in a fun and relaxing manner.

4.    Optimists learn to endure success and failure on a continuous basis. 

• Sandra “Bullock's win came a day after she won worst-actress for her romantic comedy flop "All About Steve" at the Razzies, a spoof of the Oscars that mocks Hollywood's low-points of the year.”

5.    Optimists face their fears “in-person.”

• The Razzie win made Bullock the only actress to receive that dubious prize and an Oscar on the same weekend. Bullock became one of the few Razzie winners ever to collect her trophy in person, showing up at the ceremony Saturday pulling a little red wagon filled with DVDs of "All About Steve" for the audience there.

6.    Some things finally do come to pass.  Kathryn Bigelow was the first female director in history to win an Oscar for the BEST DIRECTOR category.

7.    It is possible to try something new, break set and be seen in a new way. 

• Known mainly for brazen comedy routines and roles in lowbrow films, Mo'Nique startled audiences with a dark turn as a reprehensible welfare mother in "Precious."

8.    Optimists can POKE FUN at themselves with ease.

• "They'll sit side by side on a nice little shelf somewhere. The Razzie maybe on a different shelf. Lower," said Bullock, who was a great sport throughout awards season, joking about her worst-actress Razzie nomination. "You take the good with the not-so-good."

9.    David can still beat Goliath as in unknown and upstart "The Hurt Locker" bested "Avatar" for "BEST PICTURE."

• "The Hurt Locker" was a rare film that swooped in from outside the Hollywood studios to earn the industry's highest tribute. "The Hurt Locker" was acquired by Summit Entertainment after the film played at the Toronto festival.

10.    This year’s Oscar proved dramatically that you do not have to have won before to win.  The four actor/actress winners won Oscars for the FIRST TIME.


 By Dr. Russ,

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day; the day I offer some TIPS to “Busst-Up” any pessimism blocking your path to a incredible week of OPTIMISTIC LIVING.  Today’s Bussters are based on my assessment of the TOP TEN MOMENTS OF OPTIMISM from the now ended 2010 Winter Olympics.

Top Ten Inspirational Moments of Optimism from the 2010 Winter Olympics

1.    Bode Miller won his Gold Medal by skiing the most “perfect” race of his life.  He chose to focus on the PROCESS of his skiing and achieving a “personal best” and not on the Golden Outcome.
2.    The USA won its first Gold Medal in the Four-Man-Bobsled since 1948.  That is a 60 year hiatus.  Sixty years of striving for something is worth noting for its sheer determination and optimistic striving.  Remember that failure is not possible until one stops trying.
3.    Joannie Rochette won a Bronze Medal despite and in honor of her mother who died just two days before her first event.
4.    The Games like life were struck with tragedy and grief; not only the sudden death of Joannie Rochette’s mother but also the tragic death of Georgia’s Nodar Kumaritashivili while on a practice Luge run. Like my English professor said on November 22, 1963 upon learning that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated; “the best honor to the fallen is to carry on.”  And, so the Games went on.
5.    In my mind there is nothing more tragic than the death of a young and vibrant parent or child/young adult.  But in every death we have the opportunity to honor the fallen and learn how live life better, more safely, or richly, or with more appreciation of each moment we have with someone.  Perhaps such a view is part of what we mean by “eternal life.”
6.    The world had the opportunity to experience vicariously if not directly the wonderful place that Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is.
7.    We had the opportunity to learn much about other nations and cultures leading to greater appreciation of cultural differences.
8.    These Olympics had the absence of the polarizing politics of some past games. 

• “We must continue to guard against using the event as a Political International Hockey Puck in order to prevent the demise of Olympic Optimism.   Memories of Munich in1972, Moscow in 1980, and Los Angeles in 1984 are all too vivid reminders of the pessimistic potential of political pugilistic pugnaciousness.”

9.    The Canadians were able to poke some humor at themselves regarding the glitch of the opening ceremonies when one of the arms on the Olympic Cauldron failed to rise.  In the Closing Ceremonies a “comic” playfully connected a huge plug for power and then proceeded to tug  on the arm pulling it out of the floor with a rope over his shoulder.  I am reminded of the Optimism of the Pollyanna Glad Game as a Canadian spokesperson was heard to say: “If we had not had the missing leg of opening night we wouldn’t have been able to have such fun with it tonight in closing.”

10.    Neil Young sang in the closing ceremony:

• “We’ve been through some things together/with trunks of memories still to come/we found things to do in stormy weather/Long may you run.” 

Like all good optimists, the athletes had to learn to adapt to the changing Vancouver weather.  And, more importantly, every athlete who competed got there because “Long did they run!!!”

By Dr. Russ

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day; the day I issue Tips of Optimism to BUSST-UP any pessimism facing you this week.  Today is the 30th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice” when the underdog amateur USA Winter 1980 Olympic Team conquered the heavily favored and “professional” Russian Ice Hockey Team. There is much “optimism” to be learned from a detailed examination of this event that was one “Shining Moment of Optimism.”

"Miracle on Ice" Dr. Russ Bussters

Optimists Work Harder: This team had much more than sheer determination.  They spent a year and a half in Herb Brook’s version of “Hockey Basic Training.”  First, he went through a careful selection process that even included psychological testing.  After a roster had been selected from several hundred candidates, they spent 4 months playing a challenging schedule of exhibition games across Europe and North America.

Optimists Focus on What they Can Control: He knew he could not match the skill of the European Hockey players, and so he recruited players for speed and emphasized conditioning and discipline.   

Optimists are Opportunity Seekers: He wanted a team that could grab whatever opportunities that came its way such as: a) the arrogance of the Russians who underestimated their US opponent after giving them a 10 – 3 drubbing  in the pre-Olympic exhibition game; b) with time running out in the first period, the soviet goalie expecting the “buzzer” apparently let up allowing a rebound off him to be slapped in for a US goal; and c) the Russian coaches decision to use the “second string” goalie after that.

Optimists are Team Builders:  “Brooks worked to unite them, often against himself. He challenged them physically, but also verbally, questioning whether they were good enough, tough enough, worthy of the task. A few confrontations ended in shouting matches.”

Optimists are Strategic and Task Focused:  Brooks’ made several tactical moves before the Olympics in order in get more mobility on the defensive line he switched a key offensive player to the defensive side, and his quest for speed produced three “centers” that “could skate with anyone.”  Finally, he managed to get his goalie, Jim Craig, to peak at just the right time.

Optimists take Responsibility for Failure:  After losing the pre-exhibition game to the Soviets 10-3, Brooks blamed himself and his overly conservative game plan, not the players.

Optimists Build on Success: In the preliminary round, Team USA began tentatively against Sweden, but a last-minute goal salvaged a 2-2 tie. A 7-3 win over Czechoslovakia boosted confidence. The momentum grew with victories against Norway and Romania and a 4-2 comeback win over Germany.

Optimists Keep Striving No Matter What:  Beating the Russians that night did not win the Gold Medal.  The US still had to play Finland.  In the “round-robin” format of the day, it was mathematically possible for the US to come in 4th not 1st.  

• “Brooks, fearing an emotional letdown, ran a hard practice the day before the game, taunting his players: “You’re too young. You can’t win this.”  Before their final 20 minutes together, the coach warned his players: “This will haunt you the rest of your lives.” The team responded with another excellent finish; came back from a 2-1 deficit to win 4-2.

Optimists Believe they are Working for Something Larger than Themselves: Brooks and the young team members knew the game against Russia had the potential to be a “statement game” in world politics; an opportunity to restore respect to a country that was being held hostage in Iran and near the peak of the “Cold War” with the soviets who had just invaded Afghanistan.  The national image was near an all time low and President Jimmy Carter was threatening to boycott the Summer Games in Moscow over Afghanistan.

Optimism Makes Dreams Come True:  Broadcaster Al Michaels is credited with having framed the victory as a “Miracle on Ice” when he pronounced when time expired: “Do you believe in miracles?” And, shortly thereafter said: “This impossible dream comes true!" “No scriptwriter would ever dare.”

By Dr. Russ

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day, the day I post a list of TIPS to “BUSST-UP” any PESSIMISM standing in the way of your having a week filled with OPTIMISTIC MOMENTS.  Today’s Bussters are based on what we can learn ABOUT OPTIMISM from the athletes and events of the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver, Canada.

More specifically – What can we learn about optimism from the possible answers to the question:  Why do the Winter Olympic athletes compete? Why do they risk life and limb to compete?

Olympic Sized Bussters

1.    2,732 athletes from 82 countries compete in 15 sports and 82 events for a total of 258 medals.  Less than 10% of athletes will go home with a medal; 90% will not medal.  

• Lesson of Learned Optimism:  A “skilled sports optimist” is aware of “base rate” probabilities for wining and losing.  They know they are not in control of the outcome, but also know they are in control of putting forth their best effort and performance.

2.    Bode Miller is an American downhill skiing super star. The news media which has us focused on the “hype” of who will have the biggest “Medal haul” finds Bode’s opinions on winning outside their view of the “mainstream.”  The news media appears to all about the hype of winning, the “Thrill of Victory” and refer to Bodie’s opinions on winning as “overly intellectual.” 

• Lesson of Learned Learned Optimism: Bode’s opinions, while at odds with the TV news media, are quite consistent with and illustrate the Dr. Russ Buss view of OPTIMISM. Check out the next four Bussters that contain Bodeisms shedding light on what we can learn about “skilled optimism.”

3.    The Miller mantra; the core of his beliefs is about chasing the perfect race as the priority, not chasing medals.

• Lesson of Learned Optimism:  I can only control how hard I work to perfect my skiing skill. Whether or not I win depends on some factors outside my control (e.g., skill, motivation and perfection of other competitors; perspective and biases of judges).

4.    Miller on gold medal as goal: “It depends on the manner of earning the gold medal.  If you achieve while racing for the pure enjoyment without getting entangled in all the other things that can surround an event, then that’s a worthy goal.”

• Lesson of Learned Optimism: Optimism is maintained by a focus on the intrinsic value of the activity, the “pure” enjoyment of the act; a focus breeds self-worth.

5.    Miller on winning: “Obviously you want to win, but you want to win by skiing a race that you’re proud of and you feel like you really challenged yourself and left it all out there.” 

• Lesson of Learned Optimism:  Optimism is best maintained by the satisfaction gained from taking on challenges and giving forth the best effort.

6.    Miller on racing: “. . . I come in and race hard and hopefully I can make the tactical decisions to make it down error free.  I want to make sure I find the gas pedal and press it to the floor.”

• Lesson of Learned Optimism: Optimism is maintained by a task focus, “doing the next right thing” in a tactical sense, and by the sheer thrill of engaging in the act itself – in his case – “flying down the mountain on the edge of 'being-in-control' and spinning wildly 'out-of-control.' "

7.    “Oh no,” thought Ohno as he was passed by three Koreans on the last lap. Apolo Anton Ohno looked like he would win a gold or silver in the 1500 meter short track speed skating final until three Koreans passed him with only a few meters to go.  Suddenly, two of the Korean skaters got tangled-up in each other’s skates and slid off the course. Ohno kept his cool and finished second.

• Lesson of Learned Optimism:  Ohno stayed focused on what he could control; remained a in position to take advantage of an opportunity the moment it came up.

8.    J. R. Celski, an American in his first Olympics, took third behind Ohno, and won the Bronze medal.  Five months earlier he crashed at the United States Nationals, sliced his thigh muscle with his skate almost down to bone, dangerously near femoral artery, and could have died.  Lying on the ice with a life saving tourniquet on his leg, placed there by Eric Heiden, winner of 5 Olympic speed skating medals, and now a physician,  he told his parents at “Its over.” – referring to Olympic dream and his speed skating career.

• Lesson of Learned Optimism:   Optimistic stamina is characterized by relative rapid recovery from the pessimistic moment of “It’s over.”  And, he found “optimistic inspiration” from Eric Heiden who wouldn’t let him accept “it's over,” and quickly got back on an intensive Olympic rehab schedule.