What Good is Optimism?

“Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars.”- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

If you place second in a contest, would you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or would you be discouraged and find an excuse not to compete again?

In life, you are always filled with choices.

You can choose a pessimist’s view and live a victim, self-defeatists, poor me point of view.

Or you can decide to take the optimist’s route and look at life as challenging, fulfilling and exciting.

The choice is yours.

I suggest you now concisely choose an optimist’s point of view. 

Why?

Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health, confidence and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

The rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer only affects middle-aged housewives or men in midlife crisis, but also is seen in teen-ager’s, college students and just about everybody…it’s time to break away from the crowd!

Here are a few reasons to decide to be an optimist:

* Optimists Expect The Best

Notice the word “expect”.  This is powerful in that an optimist doesn’t sit around and wait for the best…they expect the best.  This is part of their mental strength.  They expect the best the same way you expect a package from Amazon after you’ve ordered a book.

You KNOW it’s coming…you expect it to show up, and it does.

By expecting the best….you’ve subconsciously placed your order and now you KNOW it’s going to show up, and it does.

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe AND expect bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do.  The pessimist’s thoughts are self-fulfilling.  It’s a vicious cycle and frustrating, the pessimist doesn’t have a clue that they are the cause of their results.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they perceive their results. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.  To them, there is no failure, only feedback.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the ‘problem’ at hand. They use ‘positive reinterpretation.’ In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder and excel at their personal performance.

They don’t disempower themselves by say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.”

Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

* People Respond Positively to Optimists

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.

In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial, sought for advice and are “in the right place at the right time.”

When the going gets tough, optimists get mentally stronger….they develop a warrior mindset!

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that the event exists or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

* Optimists Persevere

They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience…inching their way closer to their goal and dream.

* Optimists Are Healthier And Live Longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body’s ability to fight disease.

Here’s a great article from ScienceDaily – People Who Wear Rose-colored Glasses See More.

Optimists’ health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.

I’ll ask…isn’t NOW a good time to choose to be an optimist?

Think positively towards your more fulfilled life.

Look forward to success in all your endeavors.

Be resilient.

Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but decide you are not going to stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track.

Inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side!

Let me know your reasons why you’ve chosen to be an optimist in the comments below.