Can optimism be learned (24x3)?

I'm going to try a little experiment. Perhaps you'd like to join me. I'm going to see if I can learn to be more optimistic.

I was reading an article this morning on mentoring and the author mentioned the 24x3 Rule. I had never heard of it, but it seems easy enough to try (though not so easy to master).

There's a really brief (and insightful) article by Anthony K. Tjan that describes the 24x3 Rule for Optimism: 'Learning Optimism With the 24x3 Rule.'

Essentially, it is this:

The next time you hear an idea for the first time, or meet someone new, try to wait 24 seconds before saying or thinking something negative. This reinforces a foundational skill of good optimists and good leadership. That basic skill is listening. As you gain the ability to listen and pause for a brief 24 seconds before letting the critic in you bubble to the verbal surface, move to the next level and try to do it for 24 minutes. At 24 minutes, you are able to give more considered thought to the idea and think more carefully of the many reasons why it might actually work, why it might be better than what is out there, and why it might just topple conventional wisdom.

And yes, you should also work towards the ability to wait 24 hours — one single day — before pondering or verbalizing the cons against something. Of course, most times this will not be possible. Our minds cannot compartmentalize so easily, nor shut off our past experiences. But the 24×3 rule is a type of reflective meditation for developing a more optimistic approach towards people and ideas. The simple guideline of 24x24x24 is just a good reminder that a prerequisite of optimism is to have a willing suspension of disbelief.

Certainly there are whole books on learning optimism, and there may be better ways too, but I at least want to give this a try. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? On the other hand, what's the BEST that could happen?!? (See, maybe it's working already!)

So, give it 24 seconds. And we've probably all stewed over something for at least 24 minutes. Surely we can reverse that. And, who knows, maybe one day we'll be more optimistic! :) 24x3: seconds, minutes, hours...

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"Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah." - Acts 3:19-20