.“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Winston Churchill
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Maria Robinson
One of the most common questions people ask me based on this blog’s name and what I write about is simply how one can become more of an optimist.
So today I would simply like to share three habits that I use just about every day and that help me to stay optimistic in pretty much any situation. Sometimes it may take a while before I find an optimistic thread of thought but these three habits usually help me to find it.
1. Ask yourself questions that let you see the optimistic viewpoint.
When I’m in what seems like a negative situation my most common way of making something better out of that is to ask myself questions that promote optimism and helps me to find solutions.
Questions like:
- What is one thing that is positive or good about this situation?
- What can I learn from this situation?
- What is the opportunity within this situation?
These questions are not something that I can always use right away when I wind up in one of those situations. Sometimes I need some time to process and accept the feelings and thoughts that arise. But after a bit of time, when those thoughts and feelings have mostly passed, I ask myself one or more of these questions.
2. Get optimistic support from the world around you.
One the most important factors for being able to stay optimistic are the influences around you. Optimism is – just like enthusiasm – contagious.
So find ways to create an environment that supports you.
- The people in your life. Try to spend more time with optimistic people and less time with people who seem to always be negative about things. One practical way to gain a more optimistic viewpoint is by just talking to someone close to you about your current issue. Just letting it out and saying it out loud can often help you to hear how exaggerated your thoughts and emotions have become. And by talking about it with someone that is supportive you can get a positive and constructive change in perspective.
- The information you let into your mind. One of the simplest things you can do to create and support your own optimism is simply to regularly read blogs and books and listen to or watch recordings created by optimistic people.
3. Start your day in an optimism creating way.
I have mentioned this many times in the past because the way you start your day often sets the tone for the rest of your day.
A stress-free morning leads to less stressed feelings and thoughts during your day. A work out early in your day leads to more energy throughout the day. And optimism while you are eating your cereal or having your coffee can help you to stay positive and constructive as you go through the ups and downs of your day.
Practical ways to get this good start is to read or watch something optimistic. Or to have an uplifting and/or motivating conversation over breakfast or early in your day.
Henrik Edberg / www.positivityblog.com
