Five Optimistic Ways of Thinking All of Us Should Engage in Daily
28 February 2023
For the longest time, there are people out there who believe that optimism was something only happy people could conjure up, like a magic spell. For some time in my mind, these people seemed to be always smiling, never sad, and I felt that they were in some ways seeing things through rose-colored glasses. So, the Universe repaid them in positive thoughts and endless happiness.
However, now I am older and have been around High-Performance coaches and leaders, I realised that optimistic people aren’t always happy. They get mad and sad just like the rest of us. But they don’t let that get in the way of living with the hope that tomorrow will be better. Tomorrow is a gift.
I also realised that they actually work pretty hard to face the world with a smile and good cheer. In other words, it’s not something they’re born with, but rather something they develop and master over time. What they do have is a certain way of looking at life. A certain mindset that beams with positivity.
It’s just that some are better at it than others because they’ve been through the hurdles in life and taken action despite their circumstance and reaped the rewards having done so and know how satisfying it can be.
That led me on a quest to seek out how they do that and so I connect with them daily now as part of my daily habits. It turns out it starts in our thought process.
So, to give you an insight into this method of thinking, I rounded up five optimistic thoughts all of us should engage at all times for a healthier, more fulfilling way of looking at the world and ourselves.
Let’s dive in.
1. Life Gives You as Much as You Can Handle – It’s True!
You’re much stronger than you give yourself credit for. There isn’t a difficult situation that can break you or bring you down.
Going that extra mile will pay off in the long run. Yes, you’ll probably be tired and want to give up. There will be the naysayers there too in the picture. But just imagine how better off you’ll be if you persevere and keep at it.
You’ll be more resilient, more experienced, and much wiser. Plus, you’ll be so proud of your work and that you had the strength to follow through and make it to the end.
2. Everything Happens for a Reason in Your Life
Now that you know that you can handle anything that comes your way, it’s time to come to terms with the fact that everything happens for a reason. Whether things happen to you to teach you a lesson, increase your resilience to something or to make you see things from a different angle, things do happen for a reason.
They may not all be to your liking. But if you just be patient and have faith in yourself, they may work out better than you ever imagined!
For example, you’ve had your heart set on a promotion for some time now. Then, out of the blue, your bosses decide to give it to someone else. Of course, you’d be fuming and extremely upset. Who wouldn’t?
But that one small thing can send you in a completely different direction. You may realise you’re not ready or that you’d like to pursue something entirely different. Perhaps even decide on a whole new direction entirely for yourself and move on to a new path in life.
Who knows?
The point is to look for the silver lining. Each thing that happens in life is a lesson waiting to be learned.
3. Happiness is a Choice
There’s always something to be happy and grateful for. Always. Practicing a daily habit of giving thanks for at least three things each day and writing about it in a journal can really make a difference for you in the long run.
Even if you have to put in a bit of effort to find them, it’s worth it. It can be little things like you saw a bird outside your window this morning. Or be happy that it’s almost the weekend and you’ll get a chance to go out with your friends.
Remember that life comes with its fair share of disappointments. However, by choosing to find the good in every situation, you become a happier person to be around.
You’ll also appreciate the good times instead of being miserable over the ‘what ifs’ and what could have been. This will help you focus your attention on the positive things that may come your way rather than begrudging a bad day if you have one. Everyone has a bad day now and then. It’s in how you handle the down days that make the difference in how fast you recover and get on with things that matter in the following days.
4. You Have More Control Than You Think in Your Life
It’s easy to play the role of the victim. We blame people and circumstances for how our lives turn out, but we’re the ones who get the final say.
No, you don’t have 100% complete control, and yes, things will happen that may take you by surprise. But that doesn’t mean they’re wrong. Even if these things aren’t going the way you imagined or planned, you need to have some trust that things will work out just fine in the end.
As for the things you can control, it’s up to you to change whatever isn’t making you happy. If you’re not satisfied with your job, change it. Your friends, your partner, the colour of your hair—big or small, you need to be strong enough to take back control of your life and change what needs to be changed so you can be happier and live life the way you want it.
5. Preparing for Change in an Ever Changing World
Remember, nothing in life is permanent. You grow up, possibly find your soulmate, and have some kids. Then, they grow up, and so on. Perhaps the single life is for you and adventure is key to your happiness.
Even if you love your career and wouldn’t change it for the world, your position there isn't fixed. You probably started at an entry position, then got promoted, and finally landed the corner office.
That’s what life is all about. Change.
The problem is that we often see change as a bad thing because we as human beings don’t like change. We are creatures of habit. It almost seems like it’s a disruptor of our plans and how we’ve systemised everything when change hits our lives.
But change can be good. It’s all in the way you look at it.
So, make sure you appreciate the little moments that make life memorable and unique. Avoid focusing on the negative or the bad times in your life.
If you’re in a situation where you feel trapped, this is when you have to muster up your optimism from deep inside. Dig up the courage and be the change you need in your life. If you don’t do it, who else will?
Picture yourself a year or possibly two from now. How does it look? What are you doing differently in that projected picture of yourself two years from now? Were you able to free yourself from that upsetting situation? Will it even matter several months down the road? Just remember, it’s all about how you view things that matters and that you need to engage in optimistic thinking habits on a daily basis in order to win in life. It’s all about the positive thinking!
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