Шешімі: How Optimism Helps Success

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Optimism vs. pessimism

Before you keep reading, take a moment to think about some of the things that happened to you today. Even better, grab a pen and write down a few specific events. So what did you come up with? Was it mostly positive stuff like: “My day’s going great! My grandmother made me pancakes for breakfast. I sat with my friends at lunch, and I actually enjoyed the English class today!” Or did your mind land on what went wrong: “My grandmother cooked breakfast and it made me so late I missed the bus. My friends wasted the entire lunch period gossiping about a boring TV show, and I had English class today. I hate Thursdays!”

Researchers have spent a lot of time studying people who think positively. It turns out that an optimistic attitude helps us be happier, more successful, and healthier. Optimism can protect against depression – even for people who are at risk of it. An optimistic outlook makes people more resistant to stress. Optimism may even help people live longer. To put it simply, optimism is healthy.

The best thing about optimism is you can learn it, even if your outlook tends to be more pessimistic. Optimism and pessimism are mindsets – ways of thinking and seeing things. Optimists see the positive side of things. They expect things to turn out well. They believe they have the skill and ability to make good things happen.

You’ve probably heard people who tend to see the faults in everything called “pessimists.” A pessimist is more likely to expect things to turn out poorly or to focus on what didn’t go well. People aren’t always optimistic or always pessimistic, but most people tend to lean toward one of these thinking patterns. The good news is, if you tend to be more pessimistic, you’re not destined to always think that way. We can all become more optimistic by adjusting the way we see things.

Another important thing is that optimism helps people succeed. Optimism goes beyond seeing the bright side of a situation or expecting good things. It’s also a way of explaining what has already happened. When something good happens, optimists think about what they did to make the situation turn out so well. They see their abilities as permanent, stable parts of themselves. They think of how this good thing can lead to other good things.

When things don’t go as expected, it’s the reverse: optimists don’t blame themselves. They see setbacks as temporary. When something goes wrong, optimists link it to a specific situation or event, and not to their capabilities. Because they don’t view setbacks as personal failings, optimists are able to bounce back from disappointment better than pessimists.

If you tend toward mostly pessimistic thinking, you can get better at seeing what’s good. Here are some things to try.

First of all, notice good things as they happen.

At the end of the day, take 10 minutes to run through your day and come up with things that you’re grateful for. Write them down in a journal, or keep track using a motivational app on your phone or tablet.

You can also train your mind to believe you can make good things happen in your life.

Get in a habit of telling yourself specific things you can do to succeed. For example: “If I study, I can get a better grade.” “If I practice, I'll perform well at the audition.” “If I go on that volunteer trip, I’ll meet new friends.”

When something good happens, give yourself credit.

Think of what you did to make a good outcome possible. Did you prepare for the test? Practise with dedication? Think of the strengths you used and how they helped you succeed.

These simple things can change your attitude to life. In the end, every cloud has a silver lining.