How to Be Optimistic

7/5/2017

Being optimistic is like an internal switch you can turn on and off yourself. You decide when you want to be optimistic and when not to. Learn how to do so here.

Last week I gave you 5 great reasons to be optimistic; this week I’m giving you a few ideas so you can become optimistic in no time.

It’s not easy to switch from being a pessimist most of your life to now being an optimistic. But it’s certainly possible.

You only have to pay attention to the kind of thoughts you’re allowing yourself to come to your mind because those are the ones that help you stay where you are (optimist or pessimist) or help you move over to where you want to be (optimist or pessimist).

Don’t wait for some thing, event, or circumstance to happen for you to be optimistic. Instead, choose to be optimistic.

You cannot feel good and bad at the same time

A few months ago I was doing my daughter’s hair while I was feeling worried and pessimistic. As I was thinking that, more thoughts of the same came to me to keep me feeling that way.

Then my daughter asked me a question that is totally out of the train of thought I had. I don’t even remember now what she asked me, but it was one of those wondering questions that children have. Well, that question distracted me from what I was giving my attention to.
Then I remember saying to my daughter, “don’t talk to me, baby, because then I cannot concentrate in… worry-i-n-g. Wait a minute! What am I saying?” At this very moment I consciously realized something that we all for sure know but that we need to experience it to understand it so clearly.

This moment was when I clearly realized that you cannot worry and be happy at the same time. You cannot be doubtful and hopeful at the same time. You cannot be pessimistic and optimistic at the same time.

Use your free will to choose

What you, and I, and everyone need to do here is to exercise our God given FREE WILL. That’s right! Use your free will to choose how you want to feel. It’s that simple.

You can always choose how you want to feel based on what you’re giving your attention to. Someone said that what you focus on… expands, or what you give your attention to… grows, well it is true.

So, how do you want to feel? Do you want to feel worry or happiness? Do you want to feel doubtful or hopeful? Do you want to feel pessimistic or optimistic? Pick your choice and do everything you can possibly can to feel that way.

You’re always choosing

Feeling pessimist is not bad. It just makes life neither pleasant nor enjoyable for you and/or for those around you.

Feeling pessimist or optimist is an emotional state. And, as I explained above, you can always choose how you want to feel based on what you’re giving your attention to.

So the simplest way to be and remain optimistic is to pay attention to what you’re paying attention to, to choose to be optimistic, and to do everything you can possibly can to remain that way.

Being optimistic is like an internal switch you can turn on and off yourself. You decide when you want to be optimistic and when not to. Learn how to do so here.

Ideas to be optimistic

Do you need help to feel optimistic? Here are a few ideas that can help you. Keep it handy for those times when you feel pessimistic and just cannot think of ideas of how to go back to feeling optimistic.

Look for the good and positive in every situation
Speak success
Use your thinking time to create something good
Let go of things that drain your energy
Expect things to work out for you
Focus on the present
Be grateful that nothing is permanent
Think as may positive thoughts as you can in 20 seconds
Find positive friends
Stay away from the “all or nothing” thinking
Become a flexible perfectionist
Plan for down days
Rest as much as you need to
Stay away from negative people and situations
Keep an optimistic monologue
Don’t ruminate in pessimistic thoughts
Appreciate the good in your life
Indulge your passions
Work on the things you can control
Avoid comparing yourself to others
Give others positive feedback
Give yourself positive feedback
Improve your perspective
Smile often even if forced
Take care of your appearance
Do activities that make you smile or laugh
Count your blessings
Find the good in the world
Don’t try to be happy, just try to feel good
Make friends with an optimistic
Practice, practice and practice

Be patient with yourself. Changing your mental attitude takes time. Don’t get angry or lose hope just because at moments you feel pessimistic. Instead acknowledge how you feel and do all you can to return to feeling good and optimistic.

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. –Harry Truman

Now you know that you have the free will to choose, that you don’t have to wait for anything outside of yourself to be optimistic, that your thoughts help you feel better, and that you’re the only one in control of how you feel. This means you’re ready to begin changing and improving your life today.

What other ideas do you have that help you stay or return to feeling optimistic? Please share it with us in the comments below.

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Image credit: www.123rf.com/profile_kevron2001

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