In life, we are often faced with situations that test our abilities and our patience. While most people experience this at least once in life, only a few get through these trying times with a smile on their face. These people are optimists – cheerful souls who will find a silver lining in any situation they are faced with.

Being an optimistic person doesn’t mean you become indifferent to your problems – instead, it means that you don’t let negative feelings overwhelm you. Living your life with this positive mindset can elevate your mood, keep you healthier, and grateful for the good things in life.

 

How To Be An Optimistic Person And Live Your Life With a Smile

 

1. Optimism and pessimism – what’s the difference?

 

If there is one line that sums up the essence of optimism and pessimism, it has to be this golden quote by George Bernard Shaw:

‘Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the airplane, the pessimist the parachute.’

Most of us have heard the glass-half-full story. It teaches us that pessimists perceive the glass as being half-empty rather than be grateful for what they have, while optimists are happy to have at least something.  However, the reality isn’t as simple! The difference between an optimist and a pessimist isn’t the problems they face – rather, it lies in how they deal with these problems!

Life is a beautiful mixture of good and bad days, and ups and downs are a part of life. On a happy day, most people will look at the world through rose-colored glasses and be grateful for whatever is happening. But when faced with a slight hiccup, pessimists will take an entirely negative turn on life – their thinking reflects negative energy, and a pessimist will always be expecting the worst.

An optimistic person, on the other hand, will focus on the positive and cope with the situation with a positive outlook.

Now, no one is perfect, and even the most positive people struggle to cope up with the difficulties in life. But using one’s willpower to overcome these difficulties and hope for a better future is what differentiates an optimist from a pessimist!

P. S. Let me clarify that this doesn’t mean that pessimism is ‘bad’ by any means. Like everything else, balance is critical here, and balancing your life between both feelings is the only way you will succeed in life. A degree of pessimism forces you to be controlled and careful at many crucial points in life!

 

2. Who is an optimistic person?

 

When we look at a happy person, we automatically associate with optimism, but these two are entirely separate entities. While being an optimistic person allows you to be satisfied more often, an optimist isn’t always happy! We have a long-held belief that an optimist only sees positive in every situation, but the truth is a little more complicated.

Being an optimistic person doesn’t mean that you turn a blind eye to all your problems and focus on the good things. Instead, it depends on how you approach life’s stresses – do you succumb, or do you take it on as a challenge?

Simply speaking, hen you adopt an optimistic mindset, your problems won’t vanish, but you’ll have the strength to face them in a productive way.

 

3. Reasons to choose an optimistic attitude

 

The optimistic person tends to enjoy life more than others, but there are numerous other reasons to choose an optimistic mindset.

 

1: There is a clear correlation between your attitude and your health.

 

Scientists have observed that optimists have a lower incidence of heart problems and hypertension. An optimistic person is more likely to live a long, healthier life since they don’t let issues get to their head, and experience less stress than their pessimist counterparts.

 

2: Optimistic person handles small hurdles with a smile, and doesn’t let minor problems rule.

 

An optimistic brain is almost hard-wired to produce less amount of cortisol, the natural stress hormone of our body. This improves the quality of their life simply because you can handle whatever life throws at you with grace, without stressing out too much.

 

3: Optimistic mindset teaches you to make the best of what’s given to you.

 

… And it is one of the best reasons you should adopt an optimistic attitude. Choosing to be an optimistic person will be an improvement in your attitude and you’ll start to notice how much good is everywhere around you.

 

4. How exactly can you become an optimistic person?

 

1) Make a conscious effort to change how you think

 

We are continually choosing between options from the time we wake up to when we go to sleep. Just like you decide whether you want to spend a quiet day alone or go out with friends, you can also choose whether you wish to have a more positive mindset and live as an optimistic person.

We live in a pessimist world where anything can go wrong… But the journey towards being an optimist starts where you decide to be positive and make decisions to support this choice, every day. This book can help you start shaping your optimistic mindset:

The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor

 

2) Surround yourself with positive people

 

We are as good as the company we keep. If you surround yourself with people who hold on to their misery instead of moving on, soon you’ll find yourself doing the same. If you offer someone a solution to their problem and they brush it off, insisting that it won’t work, consider it a red flag! Spending time with happy, positive people will encourage you to do the same.

 

3) Recognize negativity in your thoughts

 

You can’t live life in the hope that everything will turn out perfect, and it is perfectly normal to have some negative thoughts. It isn’t healthy to ignore these feelings, so try to acknowledge your feelings instead of brushing them off (this article can help).

If you are anxious about an upcoming meeting, it is good to recognize your anxiety and prepare yourself as best as possible. Believe it or not, a balance of negative emotions is vital to keep us motivated, and the problem only arises when you let these feelings shadow your optimism.

 

4) Practice positive thinking

 

When you wake up in the morning, make an effort to be grateful for the little things in life. Soak in some sunshine, look at the beauty of nature, and be happy with who you are. You can also try journaling exercises that focus on positive thoughts – it is a fantastic way to elevate your mood and spend the whole day smiling!

If you don’t know how exactly you should practice positivity, I recommend you to grab our free printable Positivity Journal which can guide you through this.

And while you may think that it isn’t possible to change how you handle life… The truth is – it’s certainly possible, if you make an effort. I’m sure by now you understand the benefits of being an optimistic person. Why not start your journey today?

If you feel intimidated by your negative emotions, just start with baby steps. Fill your mind with positive thoughts, beautiful reads, gentle views, surround yourself with positive energy and people, and soon you’ll notice how much better you’ll feel once you become an optimistic person.

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