Pessimists rarely make the world a better place. They’re so busy complaining about how bad things are that they fail to see the good all around them. Optimists, on the other hand, are happier, healthier, and less stressed even when things do go wrong. Luckily, you can cultivate a sunnier outlook. Here are 5 daily strategies to become an optimist! Have you tried them?
Big goals are overwhelming. But small steps in the right direction will make you feel more confident and accomplished. If you wanted to lose weight, for example, thinking about the big number on the scale is just going to make you feel discourage. Instead, focus on the little things you can do throughout the day to inch you toward your goal. Making a healthier food choice at lunch and exercising for a few minutes—that’s not too overwhelming, is it? And once you start to build up momentum, you’ll feel ever more optimistic about reaching that big goal.
Surround yourself with optimists and you’ll become one too. On the other hand, if you spend time with people who are petty, gossipy, or negative, you’ll probably find yourself falling into the same mindset. If you don’t feel very upbeat, then fake it until you make it. You can become an optimist just by acting like one!
It’s easy to focus on problems. But worrying about your situation—or complaining about it—doesn’t fix anything. Instead of dwelling on problems, shift your thinking to solutions. What could you do differently, right now, to help the situation? Chances are good that there’s at least one action you could take immediately. That action will give you a sense of purpose and motivate you to continue searching for more solutions.
You can’t become an optimist if you rely on other people to make you feel good about yourself. Those positive feelings need to come from within. You are your own best cheerleader and coach, so pat yourself on the back when you’ve done something well. Challenge yourself to the best you can every day. If you’re struggling, be kind but firm. Keep going even when you feel like quitting. And when you do succeed, don’t be shy about telling your loved ones what a good job you did!
To-Do lists set us up for feeling like failures. Unless you’ve written out the most unambitious list, there will probably be items left undone at the end of the day. Instead of dwelling on what you wish you’d done differently, think about everything you’ve accomplished and enjoyed that day. Did you smile at the antics of your pets or kids? Did you share a tender moment with a loved one or do something kind for a stranger? That’s much more important than whether you checked every item off your to-do list.
