Optimism is a continual goal. Optimism is a verb. Optimism is a process, not a state of mind, as many seem to think. Optimism takes energy and effort; it doesn’t just happen. It is the most essential step you can take towards achieving anything because how can you make a plan or take initiative without positive intentions? For instance, in an extreme example, a non-optimistic person wouldn’t even go for a promotion because they knew the odds were against them and so why even try hard at work at all?
The best optimist can turn any situation into an opportunity or find the one rabbit hole out of an intersection of bad routes. But, sometimes being optimistic doesn’t mean imagining grand and beautiful outcomes in your future. Sometimes it’s just doing your best and knowing that good things may come from that and warm sentiments when it comes to your future.
Depression is the number one killer of optimism, leaving a person feeling like no possible outcome is worth the energy that must be exerted to do it. But, some people just aren’t born with optimism, were raised by pessimists or lived through events that cloud any optimistic thoughts.
People who have had tough lives have more to overcome to clear the fog to be able to see the rabbit hole, the positivity in a negative situation. They have to train themselves. When they think of their futures, their situations outcomes, their lives they have to begin to think: what are all the possible ways someone could look at this or what outcomes (even improbable) are possible? Not focusing on their ‘luck’ or the way fortune played out in their past, or elements of their personality that are inadequate. Once they have thought of something positive happening, they most likely will not harbor any faith in the idea, but just keeping it in mind will be beneficial while silencing thoughts of their past. In the meantime, just to doing things for the sake of doing them and enjoying themselves will improve optimism. The key is not just doing things they enjoy, but finding ways to enjoy everything they do as if it’s a game. After awhile, the positive ideas will be believable and they will be generally optimistic.
All big changes must start with something small in order to be effective. Optimism is opening up your eyes to life’s potential, and not being afraid of it. It is not naive; it is not foolish; it is not vain. In order to have some faith in life’s possibilities, you must start with little things. Taking positive action in your life will ultimately lead to positive thoughts, not the other way around. Make yourself little lists of simple tasks that need to get done, keep up with them, and cross them off to feel accomplished, efficient, and capable. Once you have a stronger sense of faith in yourself, your faith in the world will follow. Once you are good to yourself, your belief that the world will be good to you will strengthen.
Once you open your idea of the different directions life can take you and strengthen your faith in yourself, optimism will show its effects on your attitude and then see results in your life because if you “change your thinking, you change your life.” If you are struggling in this area at all, Life Circles can help you develop a more positive outlook in your life. Contact us if you need us. We are always here. Thanks again for reading.
Marty and Caroline, Life Circles