What is Optimism?
Optimism is hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.
Seeing the brighter side of things can help you experience more positive events, and you may even find yourself less stressed. For example, you could be experiencing challenges today but believing that there are better opportunities tomorrow shows true optimism.
How to Practice Optimism
-Write down your positive emotions: You can simply jot down your emotions or even journal briefly. Doing this has been linked to improved mental well-being and decreased mental distress.
-Practice Gratitude: Setting aside a few minutes daily to write down or even speak of things you are grateful for helps shift your mindset to a more positive outlook.
-Become more mindful: Mindfulness requires you to be in the moment. Not worrying about the future or dwelling on the past but being present and focused on the moment. This also allows you to be more appreciative of what you already have and not focus on what you'd like or wish you'd have.
Implementing this into your daily routine can make all the difference. You have to be in control of your emotions and focus on things you CAN control. Put it in your planner or calendar continuously until it becomes a habit!
**Don’t be misled, you will still have obstacles and challenges but it will be easier to overcome when you have an optimistic outlook. Instead of focusing only on “always positive” and ignoring other emotions, make sure you still acknowledge the difficulties of the situation and even the emotions that follow.**