Change your perspective to take pleasure in your life.
"Two men look out through the same bars; one sees the muck, and the other sees the stars," the proverb goes.
– From "A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts" written by Frederick Langbridge
If you came in second place in a writing competition, how would you react? Would you be ecstatic and work harder to get even better results the next time, or would you be disheartened and look for reasons not to enter the competition again?
You will never be at a loss for options when it comes to life. You have the choice to adopt a pessimistic point of view and lead a life of self-defeat, or you may choose to adopt an optimistic point of view and live a life that is both hard and gratifying.
Therefore, why bother cultivating an optimistic point of view? And why at this time?
Optimism, on the other hand, has been shown to be associated with a variety of positive outcomes, including elevated mood and morale; academic, athletic, military, occupational, and political success; popularity; good health; and even a longer life and a reduced risk of experiencing traumatic events.
On the other side, there has never been a time when the rates of sadness and pessimism were so high. It has the same impact on adults of middle age as it does on persons of younger ages. The average age at which symptoms first appear has dropped from 30 to 15. It is no longer just a disorder that affects middle-aged housewives; today, adolescents also suffer from this condition.
The following is an example of an optimist in action, along with research that demonstrates why it is beneficial to have an optimistic outlook:
Optimists anticipate favorable outcomes.
Pessimists are characterized by the fact that they have a propensity to assume that they are to blame for unfavorable outcomes, which they think will continue for a long time and will undermine everything they accomplish.
The reality is that optimists have to deal with the same challenges as everyone else in this world. What is different about how they describe their misfortune is that it is being explained in the opposite direction. They have a propensity to believe that failure is merely a momentary setback and that the causes of it are limited to this one instance.
Optimists have a tendency to concentrate on the "issue" at hand and devise solutions for it. They employ a strategy known as "positive reinterpretation." In other words, they likely reframe a negative event in a manner that enables them to learn and develop as a result of the reinterpretation. People with this mindset are undeterred by negative circumstances; rather, they view them as a challenge and work even harder to overcome them.
They won't tell me that things will never get better, that if I fail once, I will fail again, or that if I encounter misfortune in one aspect of my life, it will happen in all aspects of my life. They won't say that.
Optimists' positive expectations also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden catastrophes, and unlikely turn of events. Optimists are more likely to view the world in a positive light. Even if they are knocked down, they will get back up. They view challenges as possibilities rather than roadblocks.
Optimists tend to receive favorable responses from others.
Optimists are more likely to take initiative and are less reliant on the pleasure of others. They do not see the need to exert any form of control or manipulation over other individuals. They almost always attract a crowd to themselves. Their upbeat perspective on life has the potential to rub off on those around them and inspire positive behavior.
It seems that optimism is a feature that is socially acceptable in all communities. People who spread pessimism, fear, or hysteria are often looked down upon, but those who promote optimism are generally well received.
These people tend to be successful in life, as evidenced by their ability to win elections, be voted most agreeable, and be sought out for advice.
When things get difficult, optimists tend to become even more resilient.
People who are more optimistic have a tendency to retain higher levels of subjective well-being, even in the face of adversity, than those who are less optimistic. Pessimists, on the other hand, are more prone to respond to stressful circumstances by either denying that the problems even exist or avoiding having to deal with them. People who are pessimistic are more prone to give up trying when they encounter problems.
They are able to persist. They are recognized not only for their unwillingness to give up easily but also for their patience. They are inching their way closer to achieving that goal or fulfilling that unattainable ideal.
Optimists have a lower risk of disease and a longer lifespan.
Research in the field of medicine has shown that a happy outlook and an appreciation for life's little joys can lead to a discernible improvement in the body's resistance to illness.
The health of optimists is exceptionally good. They don't suffer nearly as much as most people do from the typical aches and pains that come with middle age physically. And they get to outlast people who are more likely to have pessimistic sentiments.
So why not try looking on the bright side today? And keep a positive attitude toward living a life that is more fulfilling.
Why not anticipate fulfillment in whatever you set out to achieve? Why not try to tough it out? You, just like everyone else, are going to have lows from time to time, but you can't just wallow in them. Lift yourself up and out of the muck to increase your chances of finding your way back to the path that leads to success. And why not encourage others to take off their pessimistic outlook on life and look at it through a more optimistic lens?
Tim Moseley