Learning to be positive without being false. O ne of the most challenging tasks in life is to look at ourselves and the world truthfully while remaining optimistic. We don’t have to look very far to find trouble in the world and within ourselves. Some people try to shield themselves from all negative news, thoughts, and people. Others tend to dwell on the negative aspects of life. Neither of these extremes teaches us how to cope with life in a balanced way. If we are in a helping profession or are a counselor-type of person, we will find ourselves dealing with troubled people and realities often. Just dealing with the realities of day-to-day life with family, friends, and community asks us to look at the problems of life. So how do we look truthfully at the problems of life while staying optimistic? We can see what happens to people when they aren’t able to figure this question out, they often become: addicted to substances and bad habits negative and mean people everyone avoids