Even though everyone naturally has a different point of view, your success and outlook will be influenced by your capacity to maintain optimism in the face of setbacks. This article will explain how optimism affects happiness and provide 19 ways to be more optimistic now.
How does optimism affect happiness?
Although your physical health is a core factor for your quality of life and longevity, your mental health is equally essential and affects almost everything you do.
Studies show that optimistic people are less likely to develop a chronic disease; they live 11-15 % longer and have a greater chance of living over 85 years.
Optimistic people have better job security, are more likely to succeed in their careers, and have greater job satisfaction. They can turn disappointments into motivation for them, which leads to increased productivity and more achievements. Optimistic people are less sick and recover from diseases more quickly, and the actual measure of mental health is how optimistic you are about yourself and your life.
19 Tips for Staying Optimistic
To maintain good mental health, you must learn how to control your thoughts in specific ways and feel good about yourself and your life no matter what happens.
So, here are 19 tips you can follow to maintain positive thinking, overcome challenges, and achieve success in your life:
1. Control your reactions and response
We observe some fundamental distinctions between the responses of optimists and pessimists. The first distinction is that the pessimist views the relapse as permanent, whereas the optimist sees it as temporary.
The optimist believes that unfortunate events, such as the failure of a sales process, are time-limited, part of the process, and do not have a lasting impact in the future. On the other hand, the pessimist thinks that negative attitudes are destructive and will affect what happens in the future and attributes the reason for these experiences to fate.
So, when you find yourself in a difficult or frustrating situation, take your time and think about it before you show any response, and try to imagine the next step that may improve things instead of dealing with setbacks that you cannot control. So, don't let one passive event affect other aspects of your life and the opportunities that life gives you.
2. Separate events from each other
Another difference between the optimist and the pessimist is that the optimist sees difficulties as separate events, while the pessimist sees that they affect their whole life. That means that when things go wrong for the optimist, they view the event as an isolated incident that has nothing to do with other things happening in their life.
As for the pessimist, this event is one of the many problems that occur in their life, and they have a very negative view of everything and let the tension they feel towards one problem affect other areas of their life unrelated to it.
So, to stay positive, remember that one setback in one area, such as a delay in completing a project at work or failure to achieve an achievement you have always sought, does not mean the entire goal is useless. All you need is a simple adjustment to your plan.
The setback may seem massive the moment it happens, but if you have the right attitude, you can overcome adversity quickly. By separating the unfortunate incident from other events in your life, you can accept it and move on.
3. Know that setbacks are temporary
For example, if you fail to achieve something you sought and see it as an unfortunate event, but it is something normal that may happen in life and work, you act as an optimist.
On the other hand, the pessimist sees disappointments as indicators of a problem or flaw that prevails in every area of life. If you think this way, remind yourself that you can always bring about change and that nothing is fixed in life. This optimistic mindset leads you to believe that something better is coming and gives you a goal to work towards.
On the other hand, the pessimist gives up and allows one setback to affect other areas of their life, causing a double negative impact in life. At the same time, the optimist remains enthusiastic in all situations and exploits the power of positive thinking.
4. Don't take failure personally
When one fails, one is often unable to see a bright side in it, but the optimist sees events as factors beyond one's control, while the pessimist sees events as a personal problem.
The optimist tries not to take negative attitudes personally and does not consider them a reflection of their value as an individual. No one wants to face failure, but the optimist counts it as an opportunity to learn and develop.
For example, an optimistic person is not angry or upset if someone cuts them off. Instead, they downplay the importance of the event and say, “I think that person is having a difficult day.”
The optimist does not see that person harboring malicious intentions against them. On the other hand, the pessimist tends to take everything personally. If one of them crosses their path, they will act as if the other driver has deliberately acted to annoy and frustrate them.
When you face failure, analyze your role until you discover what you can do. You will get a better result or prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future. If the circumstances are beyond your control, do not take it personally. Be aware and take responsibility for your actions. Consider the actions of others to be factors beyond your control.
5. Think about things from a correct perspective
Thinking about things from a broader perspective allows you to act calmly and overcome any situation, as the optimist in the above example did. You can even do better by turning any negative situation into a positive one by allowing that person to overcome you, so you may have helped them get to work on time.
Make things right when passive events occur, think about them from a broader perspective, and stay calm with details. Remember that the inevitable setbacks you face are temporary and out of your control, and the negative situation is a separate event that is not linked to other events and often results from external factors that you cannot control much.
Do not view any unfortunate event as permanent, comprehensive, or in any way indicative of your inability or incompetence. You may not be able to control events, but you can control your reaction to them, and the sooner you realize this, the happier your life becomes.
6. Stay calm and objective
You will stay objective when you are optimistic, do not let emotions overwhelm you when you face the inevitable difficulties of daily life, and can talk to yourself positively and optimistically regardless of what is happening.
That allows you to keep your mind clear, calm, and in control despite external circumstances because you are more aware and tranquil, and you will be able to interpret events more efficiently.
Therefore, when an optimist faces a challenge or experience tension in one area of their life, they can stay positive and overcome it, maintain complete control, be proactive, and not allow external factors to influence their judgment.
On the other hand, pessimists allow emotions to control them, which makes them angry, upset, and distracted, which in turn makes them deal with problems badly, think irrationally, and make things difficult for themselves because they act emotionally instead of taking the initiative to solve the issue before it worsens.
Try to stay calm if you feel overwhelmed or angry. Although it is easier to talk than to apply it, calmness and positive thinking can change your life.
7. Keep a gratitude note
Writing down in a gratitude journal regularly helps you focus on the positive things happening in your life, and feeling grateful makes you happier and more optimistic.
Studies involving people who keep gratitude diaries show more optimism, feel more satisfied with their lives, exercise more, and need less medical advice.
Reinforce your positive thinking by writing down three to five things you are grateful for daily. You will become more aware of yourself, and your vision of life will change. You will focus on the positive aspects of your life instead of the negative or those out of your control.
8. Think about your achievements
If you have significant responsibilities toward work and family, you may feel the need to commit to many tasks you do not have energy for, and you may wonder at the end of the day if this has brought you closer to your goals.
Pessimists tend to think about what they did not accomplish and focus more on their mistakes. The optimist considers every step they take toward their goal a valuable step. They stay positive, maintain their self-esteem, and focus only on their achievements.
So, instead of worrying about what you haven't completed on your to-do list, make a list or think every night about the things you've accomplished, and your mindset will become more positive and motivate you to achieve more instead of feeling overburdened.
9. Take some time for yourself
It is necessary to take a break from your daily responsibilities and duties. Excessive work leads to poor physical and psychological health, makes your mind passive, and does not allow you to remain optimistic. So, weekly, take some time to do things that rejuvenate you. Isolation and calm give you time to meditate, think about things, and relieve stress.
Regular exercise improves your mood, reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, and increases self-confidence, so take a daily walk, join a local sports team, or work out three to five days a week.
Set aside time for a hobby, read inspiring books, or spend time with your family and close friends because taking time for yourself regularly brings more optimism and happiness.
10. Surround yourself with positive people
A positive mindset can move from one person to another, so identify the people you admire because you admire their optimism, spend more time with them, monitor their words and actions, and the things they refrain from saying or doing. You will notice some behavior patterns that you can adopt, which will also help you become more optimistic.
A life coach can be a positive source of motivation; they can help you develop the skills needed to boost your awareness, self-confidence, and optimism.
It is also essential to identify people who influence you negatively. If you can avoid these individuals or break relationships with them, do so. If you cannot, that is, if the person is a co-worker or family member, try to reduce their influence on you in some way, and when you become more optimistic, you can defend yourself.
11. Keep negative influences away from you
In addition to reducing communication with negative people, eliminate the things that frustrate you. For many people, this may include watching the news, spending time on social media, listening to melancholy music, or working in a depressing work environment, so notice how you feel when you do these and other things that are part of your daily or weekly routine, and if you feel overburdened, nervous, angry, reserved, shy, or any negative feelings, this means that you must replace these activities with positive ones.
Stay positive and fill your environment with pleasant and joyful things that nourish the soul, and decorate your home, room, or office with bright colors, comfortable furniture, and plants, listen to positive and happy words, and fill your time with productive activities, such as creativity, helping others, and learning new skills.
12. Maintain your self-confidence
Negative thoughts can easily frustrate us, and when we think about them, we may convince ourselves that we will fail even if there is no evidence to support them.
Pessimistic doubters are unwilling to try new things or take risks that could lead to bettering their lives. Optimists are full of hope and focus only on the opportunities that life offers them.
When you have fears, doubts, or negative thoughts, confront those thoughts and ask yourself why you feel them. Are they based on any evidence? If not, turn the thought into a positive one, ask yourself, “What if something positive happens instead of negative?” and think that way instead.
Daily reading motivational quotes is an excellent way to maintain an optimistic outlook. Subscribe to social media channels that offer motivational content, read inspiring books, listen to motivational podcasts, or buy a calendar with motivational quotes that develop optimism.
13. Find solutions
Every problem has a solution - only find it. Problems are a natural part of life, and they are inevitable, and you should not expect them not to happen. Facing and solving problems is a way for an individual to grow.
When you face a problem, think carefully about solutions instead of complaining about or ignoring it, work hard to solve it, and move forward. Optimists are usually good at solving problems, and when you solve problems and negative situations instead of just talking about them, you eliminate the negative energy caused by these problems and can be optimistic.
14. Forgive yourself
We all make mistakes, just as having problems to solve is a normal part of progress in life, so is making mistakes, and the best way to deal with a mistake is to learn from it and avoid repeating it in the future.
The mistakes of the past remain in the past, but if you focus too much on them, you will not be able to overcome negative emotions and thoughts, leading to more pessimistic thinking. Instead, learn from your mistakes and invest in them to become a better person through the knowledge you have gained.
Make an honest effort to move forward, understand that your past does not define you, and your recent choices are a more accurate indicator of your real personal identity.
15. Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Having suitable fitness and physical health improves mental health and self-confidence, and one of the reasons for this is the neurotransmitters that your body produces when you exercise. They not only improve your mood but also improve your sleep, enhance your attention and ability to learn, strengthen your memory and brain activity, and reduce the sensation of pain.
Eat healthy foods to give your body and mind the nutrients you need to function better and lead a better lifestyle by eliminating harmful habits, such as smoking and lack of sleep.
16. Help others
Helping others makes us forget our problems or at least allows us to think about them from a better perspective. When you try to help someone, you automatically try to be more optimistic and help them have a more positive outlook. When you encourage others, you naturally cultivate optimism in yourself.
Helping others makes you feel good about yourself and can help you think more realistically and boost your self-confidence. The positive energy you share with others will bring back more positive emotions in your own life.
17. Find the bright side in everything
When you are in a stressful situation, you probably do what many people do and ask yourself, why is this happening to me? But you should be more optimistic when you ask yourself: How can I benefit from this situation?
Instead of feeling like a victim, changing this formulation will help you alter your perspective and see the blessings and benefits that adversity can bring. You'll then feel in control of the situation and have an upbeat outlook, and your thinking will change as you concentrate on the opportunities and improvements this challenge may bring.
18. Focus on what you can control
There are still some things beyond our control. Though they are not the result of our actions, unexpected illness, a loved one's passing, losing a job, and natural disasters still impact us when we think realistically. Knowing what you can and cannot control will allow you to concentrate on what you can.
Having positive energy when doing the things you can control reduces the feeling of burden. For example, you can handle your steps to find a new job, find a life coach or counselor who can help you overcome sadness and grief, and follow your doctor's instructions to relieve symptoms.
One thing you can always control is your reaction to negative situations and the way you think about them. Try to stay optimistic by thinking things through instead of reacting quickly, and make a conscious decision to prefer positive thinking to negative thinking.
19. Laugh and have fun
You may have heard the saying, "Laughter is the best medicine," and there is a lot of truth in it. Laughter has a therapeutic effect on our mental and physical health alike, as it brings us the following benefits:
- Stimulating inhalation of more oxygen and helping to relax.
- Having a positive effect on heart function.
- Reducing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body.
- Activating the brain's reward system.
Studies show that laughter also reduces pain, anxiety, and disorders, improves brain functioning to facilitate the acquisition of skills that keep you optimistic, and has improved symptoms of some diseases, including Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and schizophrenia.
Make humor part of your daily life, and it may start with a simple smile, watching videos and comedies, reading funny books, listening to humorous dialogues, and making funny jokes.
Find humor in stressful moments as well. Laughing over an unfortunate incident or in the middle of a difficult moment may comfort you and others and help you maintain a positive outlook until you can find a solution, but avoid offending or disrespecting anyone.
In conclusion
Now you have the strategies you need, and you can start applying these ideas in your daily life, stay optimistic, and live a happier life.
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