So, how do you become an Optimist? First, it’s crucial to understand that Optimism is not about being naively hopeful about the world. It’s about learning how to challenge negative thoughts. This powerful tool puts you in the driver’s seat of your mindset, empowering you to shape your perspective. For instance, if you often think, ‘I’m not good enough, ‘you can dispute this belief by recalling past successes or seeking feedback from others. By denying such pessimistic beliefs, you gain the power to shape your perspective and become more optimistic.
Let’s explore four effective strategies to turn negativity around!
Does the evidence fit the Facts?
The best way to counter a negative belief is to demonstrate that it contradicts the facts and is incorrect. Pessimism is often either an overreaction or an entirely misguided thought; however, the realities typically support a more optimistic viewpoint. Maintaining reliance on proof will instill confidence in your optimistic mindset and provide a solid foundation for your positive outlook.
Today, most self-help books suggest that repeating positive affirmations can make you more optimistic. For instance, affirmations like ‘I am capable and competent,’ ‘I am worthy of success,’ ‘or ‘I am resilient and can overcome challenges’ can be helpful. However, many people remain skeptical and view these repetitions as misleading without finding evidence of success. Because merely reciting affirmations does not guarantee success or happiness. Instead, how you handle negativity determines whether Optimism or Pessimism will prevail. Understanding this can help you prepare for the challenges of maintaining an optimistic mindset.
The best way to counter pessimistic thoughts is to confront your negative thinking by treating it as if someone whose mission in life is to undermine you, make you miserable, or sabotage your goals is saying these things to you.
I am sure you know how to handle disagreements with others by now. However, challenging your self-criticism can be more complicated. Your negative self-talk can be just as misguided as the criticisms from other envious people. However, destructive self-criticism can be as disparaging as that of other jealous rivals. For example, when you are passed over for a promotion at work, common negative thoughts might be that your supervisor doesn’t like you, so you will never get promoted. The thought promotes negative thinking by choosing the worst possible reason among many as to why you were passed over for the promotion. Other examples of negative self-talk could be ‘My superiors never liked me,’ ‘I’m not smart enough,’ or ‘I’ll never be successful.’
Instead of sulking in your emotions, the most effective way to move away from negative thinking is to seek evidence that counters the distorted explanation you concluded. Evidence to the contrary might include your recent recognition as their best sales agent last week. So, not receiving the promotion does not necessarily mean you will never be promoted; you could reason that even some top employees have been passed over for a promotion.
Other Alternatives
There are so many reasons why Life Upshots usually result from multiple causes. It’s important to remember this, as pessimists often blame the worst possible reason, which is permanent, pervasive, and personal. In order to counter negative thoughts, consider all alternatives: What else could have caused it? What else might happen? Focus on what ‘is changeable, specific, and nonpersonal. For example, if you don’t get a promotion, it could be because you do not have the right qualifications (e.g., degree, certification, years on the job), or the individual had seniority and was next in line to receive the promotion. Reframing is important. It involves looking at a situation differently and preparing your mind to find more reasonable alternatives than the worst-case scenario. Seeking other options prevents undermining your effectiveness.
Evaluate your belief system.
Sometimes, the impact of holding a belief can be worse than the belief itself. It’s important to evaluate if the belief is harmful. For instance, thinking your supervisor dislikes you can hurt your self-esteem and create anger and dissatisfaction. In some cases, distracting yourself from negative thoughts is better than challenging them, especially when they interfere with performance. By focusing on the task instead of engaging in negative thinking, you can take a proactive step in evaluating and managing harmful beliefs.
Remember, train your mind to believe you can make good things happen in your life. Get into the habit of telling yourself specific things you can do to succeed.
How to train yourself to be more Optimistic
You can train yourself to be more optimistic by practicing gratitude, focusing on what you can control, and engaging in positive self-talk.
Practice gratitude
- Take time to be grateful for what you have
- Notice when good things happen
- Give yourself credit when good things do happen
Focus on what you can control.
- Accept what you can’t control and focus on what you can.
- For example, if you get fired or laid off, you can’t control that, but you can control it by actively looking for a new job.
- Recite the serenity prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change—courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.
Avoid Negativity
- Practice positive visualization at the beginning of the day.¨ Positive visualization involves intentionally developing a picture in your mind to visualize, feel, or perform the behavior you desire. The American Psychological Association refers to this as “mentally rehearsing.”
- ” Question negative thoughts and feelings
- Most importantly, surround yourself with positive people
Practice positive self-talk
- Avoid blaming yourself when things go wrong
- Tell yourself that you will do well if you practice regularly
- Use affirmations to make positive statements about what you can do to make good things happen.
These are a few Affirmations you can use:
- ▪ I got this
- ▪ Things are more manageable than they appear
- ▪ I am in charge of how I feel, and right now, I choose peace and calmness
- ▪I have what I need to succeed
- ▪Everything is unfolding as it should
- ▪ I am planted, rooted, and growing every day
Set Goals
- ▪Concentrate on your goals and expectations for the day.
- Consider how you can achieve your objectives.
It is also very important to take care of yourself by eating healthy, exercising, and building positive relationships with loved ones.
