What is Optimism and Why Do We Need It?
Optimism is a way of looking at your life in a positive way. You look at the good rather than the bad. Glass half full rather than half empty. Looking at the silver lining of a situation. And much much more!
If you put your attention on the positive then it makes you feel better because you aren’t concentrating on the negative. Also, by paying attention to positive things you can manifest them in your life. Manifesting in your life means to have something you’ve thought or decided should be or happen actually come into being.
For example, you decide you want to be promoted at work. You keep your attention on how this is possible. You imagine what it will be like when you are promoted and you keep affirming to yourself that it will happen. And then it happens!
The opposite would be to be pessimistic and think it’s not even possible so why bother evening thinking about it.
How to Be Optimistic
1: Find laughter.
These days, it isn’t hard to find. With Youtube and social media, there is no shortage of memes, videos, and more to get you chuckling away. You could also watch a funny movie or stand-up comedy, or hang out with funny people. Laughter will lead you to feeling good. Which brings us to the next point…
2: Turn the frown upside down.
It’s hard to believe that something as simple as smiling can improve your mood, but studies have linked outward acts of happiness to an internal shift. Practice by looking in the mirror and smiling, even it if feels cheesy, stupid, and inauthentic. Hold your smile for a minute, two minutes, five minutes…see how long you can go. Start the day off with a smile, and make a conscious effort to smile more. When you pass people in the street – smile. When you’re talking on the phone – smile. When you’re at the supermarket checkout – smile. Your smile not only makes you feel better but it makes other people feel better too!
3: Use positive words.
Words can literally shape the reality around us. If you want to build a more positive vibe, try using more positive words. Eliminate negative talk about yourself, and others as well. Say “I can” rather than “I can”; “I will” rather than “I won’t”.
4: Be in the company of positive people.
The impact of those we hang out with is enormous. Avoid negative influences and people who bring you down with complaints and criticism. As the saying goes, misery loves company, and these people will quickly bring you into a downward spiral. Find friends who are upbeat, positive, and happy, and their resilience and optimism will pass on to you. And not only that, your positive and happy mood will affect them.
5: Stay healthy.
If you’re feeling tired and sick, it’s easy to get irritable and negative. By contrast, try maintaining an active lifestyle of healthy choices that can maximize your energy levels and build you up. It’s easier to be upbeat and happy when you feel good inside and out.
6: Use positive affirmations.
This is similar to #3 above and involves affirming positive things to yourself. Affirm means to assert something as valid. By believing in a thought or sentence and repeating it to yourself regularly, you have the power to attract more positivity to your life. So you affirm something like “Today is going to be a good day”, “I am happy”, “I love my life”. For more information on affirmations read 10 Tips to Make Affirmations Work for You.
Being optimistic will help you to live your best life!