On this Labor Day, many workers and leaders are restless. The recent market volatility and the negative economic news regarding Countrywide, Amgen and the housing market are causing many in Ventura County to be concerned.

There have always been winners and losers, good and bad economic times, but bad news is easier to find. A George Washington University study monitoring 100 nights of the evening news documented 8,600 negative to 370 positive news items. Whether it's the Iraq war or the economy, we're grossly overinformed about the bad news and poorly informed about what is working and how to succeed.

Unfortunately, the attitudes people bring to economic conditions impact opportunity. Brian Thompson of the Museum of American Financial History observed: "Wall Street is predicated on optimism. The very acts of raising capital and making investments are based on the simple belief that tomorrow will be a better day. That's what makes economic growth and opportunity possible."

Attitude makes a difference. Those who prosper demonstrate flexible optimism, resourcefulness and persistence in the face of adversity and change. Some choose victim thinking and learned helplessness: "Nothing I do will make any difference in what happens to me, so why try?"

It's a myth that optimists are amiable, IQ-deficient dreamers. Research shows that optimists are more willing than pessimists to face bad news. Optimists want to know about problems early. Because of their past track record of overcoming obstacles, they expect to be successful again. It's pessimists who bury their heads in the sand of denial. Optimists reframe bad situations: "This isn't going away, so let's make the best of it we can." They're realistic, quickly giving up on unworkable strategies and searching for better alternatives.

In challenging economic times, you don't control everything that happens, but you do control your attitude and what you do.

Nurture an appreciation for the long-term economic strength of this country and this county. A Fast Co. columnist wrote: "Optimism is over. The layoffs, buyouts and bankruptcies of the past year are starting to look like the good old days.

"Business sucks to such a degree that unbridled optimism — the kind of wild, harebrained zest to rule the world — is now just a sign that your meds aren't working." This comment was made in 2001, soon to be followed by a period of unprecedented economic growth.

As Abraham Lincoln loved to say, "This too shall pass." We tend to overestimate the impact of bad economic times and underestimate how long it will take us to bounce back. Believe in the long-term, proven strength of the economy.

Dispute catastrophic thoughts by checking fears against the facts. Don't give way to catastrophic thoughts — feelings that everything is going wrong and that nothing is going to improve. Treat them as if they're being said by someone whose mission in life is to make you miserable. Dispute such thoughts by investing your worry time in due diligence — seek out the economic facts and trends that indicate both threats and opportunities.

Trade victim thinking for constructive action. Optimists make the best of their options; victims complain about how few they have. Failure to make choices doesn't prevent failure; it just turns life into slow death.

Do something one choice at a time and keep making constructive course-corrections. Be a lifelong learner! The age of lifelong employment is over. With the educational options available, invest 5 percent of your time becoming a recyclable asset

If you hate your job or fear losing it, raise that to 10 percent. It's been said, "If the horse is dead, get off it." Since horses don't warn you, have at least two horses. Diversify your investments and your skills.

Persevere in reframing difficulties and downturns into strategic opportunities. Flexible optimists build an expectation of success through persistent hard work and constructive investment strategies. Look for silver linings. Tough times can be a time to reinvent a business, cut expenses and find undervalued investments.

Spend time with other optimistic people. The company you keep can bring you up or bring you down. Mark Twain warned: "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

Value a sense of humor and gratitude. Take your job, investments and life seriously, but yourself lightly. In these challenging economic times, never forget that some days you're the bug, and some days you're the windshield.

Finally, count your blessings instead of just problems. Attitude is primarily a choice. Instead of choosing to be negative until something good happens to make you happy, choose to be happy as much as possible unless something bad happens to change that.

As always, the American dream has to be earned and re-earned. Earn yours by being proactive, flexible, resourceful, resilient and optimistic. Don't dwell on the problems while others are finding success in the opportunities.

— Terry Paulson is a psychologist, speaker and author. His e-mail address is terry@terrypaulson.com.