I also enjoyed Cavett's poignant, frank and insightful column about depression. However, the work by cognitive-behavioral psychologists combined with Seligman's work on the science of happiness strongly support that we can make the conscious choice to focus on the positive, to emphasize and effectively use our strengths, as well as learn to establishing our priorities and use our time for effectively. To me, in Randy's "Last Lecture," he provided a sterling cognitive-behavioral model of a person who had the attitude and behaviors that enabled him to live a wonderfully satisfying and productive life. In so doing, I personally am far less likely to take the downside to my situations. I mean, I just have to view segments of his lectures and/or his book, and I'm back up and running.
I also recommend to my students the book by Richard Carlson, "You Can Be Happy No Matter What," as well as Burns book, "Feeling Good Handbook," and Seligman's book, "Authentic Happiness." I truly feel if we would start working with children on how to learn to focus on the positive and on one's strengths, many would have far more productive and happier lives. We develop patterns early and some learn to feel sad and have a low self-esteem. Randy freely admitted in his lecture that he had 'the luck of the draw' with the wonderful parents and family life he experienced. We all can't have such ideal childhoods but we all CAN learn how to become more productive, optimistic and content. I think why Randy touched so many of us was that he could maintain such an upbeat and productive/pragmatic attitude and lifestyle while knowing he was dying and leaving behind a wonderful family. He served as an inspiration to us all that apparently could even touch the hearts and minds of professional psychologists. Joan [EMAIL PROTECTED] > I must admit that this outpouring of praise for Randy Pausch -- from a > bunch or professional psychologists, no less -- has me a little baffled. > Don't get me wrong. Pausch seemed like an energetic, optimistic guy who > would be fun to be around, and his death as so young an age is a > tragedy. But his view of human behavior was, well, naive at best. > > If you really think that the world of behavior is so simple that it can > be reduced to Tiggers and Eeyores, and, what is more, that we all have > the power to simply choose which kind of person we'd like to be, then I > suggest you read the column that Dick Cavett wrote on depression in the > New York Times a few weeks ago: > http://cavett.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/smiling-through/ > > It strikes me as being much more sensible and realistic, even if it > isn't quite as "uplifting." > > Chris > -- > > Christopher D. Green > Department of Psychology > York University > Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 > Canada > > > > 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ > > > > "Part of respecting another person is taking the time to criticise his > or her views." > > - Melissa Lane, in a /Guardian/ obituary for philosopher Peter Lipton > > ================================= > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
