Optimism Critical Thinking

The three main points that Dr. Cloud presented was the importance of the emotional climate within an organization, the necessity of relationships, and power of optimism. Although the concepts were not new, Dr. Cloud presented each idea in a renewed manner by weaving scientific evidence with substantial examples from his experiences. As a pastor, it is vital that the church operates with emotional health in mind. Fear, stress, and unhappiness should not be emotions expressed by volunteers who serve under my leadership. Dr. Cloud (2013) contends, “You have to pay attention to not only what’s going on inside your own head but also what is going on in the heads of the people who work for you” (p. 61). In other words, as I concern myself with

It is important to note that optimism alone is unsatisfactory. In my context, optimism is deeply rooted in the power of the Holy Spirit to work through His people. As a pastor, it is essential that I communicate through word and deed what is possible. In order to effectively accomplish the task, I must not allow negativity to flow within the church. Negativity is a destroyer of faith. I have witnessed how a single negative statement deflated the optimistic, faith-filled business meeting. Thus, I plan to incorporate a process that limits negativity. For example, requiring at least three possible solutions when bringing up a problem or issue. In this manner, the potential negative emotion is fenced in by offering positive solutions. Further, it creates a culture of problem solving, rather than

Dr. Cloud shares how a CEO’s message was lost in his communication methods. Dr. Cloud (2013) asserts, “That how he communicated was even more important than what he said” (p. 56). Dr. Cloud’s assertion is based upon the fact that actions do speak louder than words. Additionally, an individual can speak the truth, but if it is spoken in a condescending manner then the truth will be lost with the listener. A great example is the current protest in the NFL. From my understanding, the players are protesting by kneeling during the national anthem. The protest is to bring attention to social injustices that are dear to the players. However, their method, kneeling during the national anthem, has largely overshadowed their message. This past week on many sports programs have drawn attention to the fact that the players’ message have been silenced due to the uproar over the national anthem. As I view my Facebook news feed, many people are upset at the disrespect the players are showing to the flag and national anthem. Is the Church suffering from the same outcome? Are our methods overshadowing our message? As a pastor I must ensure that how the Gospel is presented does not take away from the message of God’s redemptive plan. I believe this is accomplished by staying true to your values and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore,