When things happen, do you first think, "this always happens to me," or, "next time I'll try another way." Your reaction to the way things happen to you is called your "self explanatory style."

In his books, Learned Helplessness, and Learned Optimism, Martin Seligman, breaks down your explanatory style as being either "deserving," or "hopeless." It is a style learned in childhood, most likely adolescence. If you felt you were not valued or felt your help was not needed, or you felt left out very often, you are most likely to have a "hopeless" explanatory style.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Kevin and Niseema take us through the A,B,C,D and E, sequence of "Learned Helplessness," or "Learned Optimism:"

An Adverse situation happens.

A Belief is formed based on that event.

An expectation of the same Consequences arises.

Dispute the negative consequences with statements that help you see what is really happening.

Take agency with Energization to stop feeling ineffectual and move into a more optimistic frame of mind.