At a meeting recently someone mentioned the much used analogy of the glass being half full or half empty. Reflecting on the meeting, a thought crossed my mind. Is it necessary that seeing the glass as half full is being optimistic and half empty pessimistic? Can it not be that seeing it half empty is actually the ability to see the available potential for greater fullness? Also what is the frame of reference? If the frame of reference is changed to air then the glass is full irrespective of the amount of water! Indeed the half is only in reference to the size of the glass. The same amount of water in a glass half the size is a full glass (which only has the potential to become more empty - but is that being pessimistic?!).
What do you think?
Brother, I think the analogy should only be used to indicate the different perspectives or contexts (lenses) that one can apply to a situation. In my opinion, like most like analogies, further analysis may make them illogical.
ReplyDeletePoint taken prabhu. Saying a man is like a lion does not mean he has a mane - why even bald people can be brave!
ReplyDeleteThe point of this post is that sometimes people oversimplify analogies! For example management proposes a plan of action based on a situation. They want people to agree with their view - yes men are seen as positive/optimistic and people with differing opinions are taken as being pessimistic. Pointing out that there are gaps in their plans/assessment of the situation shows that there is scope for improvement but they do not want to consider it because they have committed to a plan of action. Sometimes they see a problem where there is none due to a frame of reference that is by its very nature limited/negative etc etc etc.