Optimism is one of the most well-known human characteristics. Many studies have found that optimists outperform pessimists in life, at least in terms of physical and mental health, adaptability, relationships, profession, pain management, and even lifespan. As science and societal dogmas would have us think, being cheerful and anticipating the best will lead to the best. It is not easy being an optimistic person. There are two ways people look at their daily life difficulties as- optimistic way and a pessimistic way. So to further explain this, I will give you an example. Pooja and Resham are two friends who have been together since they were kids. Both are in high school now and were awaiting the results of their test. Pooja and Resham had both studied for their exams well but they did not do good in the exam. Pooja started feeling that she is not very intelligent and bright and it was her bad luck that gives her good marks and that even if she studies she is not going to get good grades. This projects her pessimism. On the other hand, Resham took this result as a learning lesson and in a positive way for success. She started focusing and concentrating more on her studies. This shows how optimistic she was. So your question might be, how can I be more optimistic about life and the happenings around me? Here are five tips that might help
1. Consider setbacks to be one-time occurrences
If you find yourself in a circumstance where your disappointments are pervasive and they are not letting you get better, remember that nothing is set in stone and that you are always capable of making changes. An optimist with a glass half full mentality believes that something better is on the way, giving them something to strive for. A pessimist quits up and allows a single setback to affect their entire life. This can have a detrimental impact on your life, whereas someone with a good attitude stays motivated in any scenario and harnesses the power of positive thought.
2. Don’t take the loss too seriously
It can be quite tough to see the bright side of failure at times. Pessimists perceive events as personal, whilst optimists interpret occurrences as external. An optimist strives not to take unpleasant occurrences personally or to see them as a reflection of their own value. Despite the fact that no one wants to fail, the optimist sees it as an opportunity to learn. When confronted with what appears to be a failure, consider your role in it and what you may do differently to better or prevent a similar circumstance in the future. Do not take it personally if things were beyond your control.
3. Keep a gratitude journal
You will be happier and more optimistic if you are appreciative. People who keep gratitude notebooks are more cheerful, feel better about their life, exercise more, and see the doctor less, according to research. Keeping a thankfulness diary and writing in it on a daily basis might help you focus on the good things in your life. Make a routine of jotting down three to five things you are grateful for each day to boost your positive attitude. You’ll become more self-aware and your viewpoint will shift so that you’re concentrating on the positive aspects of your life rather than the negative or things beyond your control.
4. Surrounding oneself with positive individuals can ensure success.
It is contagious to have a positive mindset. Spend more time with the people in your life who inspire you because of their optimism. Keep an eye on what they say, what they do, and what they don’t do or say. They can assist you in developing the abilities necessary for increased self-assurance, self-awareness, and positivity. You’ll find trends that you can follow to help you become more positive. Identifying persons who have a bad impact on you is also critical. You can’t get rid of someone, such as a co-worker or a family member, or a friend, discover strategies to reduce their impact on you.
5. Concentrate on what you have control over
However, there are some factors over which we have no control. We do not cause a sudden sickness, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or a natural disaster, but they do influence us. Knowing what you can and cannot manage, and then focusing on what you can control, is part of the strength of realistic thinking. Making a list of the things you can control and focusing your positive energy on them will help you feel less overwhelmed. How you react to unfavorable situations and how you think about them are two things you can always influence. Take time to reflect instead of reacting to learn how to be an optimist. Make a conscious effort to think positively rather than negatively.
These strategies will guide and help you become more positive about life. It will develop you to be a better version of yourself. Use this as a guideline or a template and fill in the tips with solutions that might relate to them. Always remember- “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement”