Brian Tracy states, “Optimism is the quality more associated with success and happiness than any other”. A human is a rational creature. He always has this scenario that his future will be better than his past and present. Thinking that his children are overly intelligent, his business will be prosperous, and his undying hope of never getting divorced in a marriage is all part of the optimistic human brain. The belief of almost every human being on this planet to think that the future will be better than the present and past is called optimism bias. Seeing the glass half full is a victorious approach and leads you to see opportunities. Pessimism kills opportunities.
Is optimism hardwired?
Optimism is something inbuilt into the human race. We tend to abide by all the positivity and hope in our life situations. It is thought to be part of evolution. We tend to think and imagine all constructive scenarios. We never think about the destructive things that can end our careers or academics. Optimism is hardwired into human brains since birth. We hope for the best; try our best; give our best. There was a survey conducted in 2005 revealed the existence of optimism in young children as well as adults. It was thought-provoking.
There are many examples in our surroundings of the optimistic approach.
For example, there were two friends John and Kevin. They both gave trials for the national football team. But they failed to get into the team. the character of John is someone who always looks for hope in the mountain of rubble. In contrast, Kevin is someone who always thinks of contradictory situations. Kevin is someone who never gets hopeful and confident about the situation. John thought of trying harder next year and getting on the football team with more enthusiasm. The coach gave him an excellent feedback that he used as fuel to burn more fiercely next time. Kevin didn’t make use of that and remained a failure. Who is more likely to practice more and try again? Is it Kevin or John?
If you ever want to bring change, it starts with yourself. If we mentally prepare ourselves to do one thing, we can achieve anything in the world. A mentally strong person can conquer the world. An optimistic mind is a sign of a strong belief. Being an optimist motivates you to keep going forward. It’s a skill you can develop with time and patience.
“ Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed towards the Sun, and one’s feet moving forward.” Nelson Mandela
I have said a lot about optimism. Let’s just develop ways to practice optimism and see things as a glass half full.
Think and talk continually about your goals
An optimist will always think about the future without letting himself dwell in the past. He always thinks in the best lights and scenarios. Why do we burn ourselves in the agony of past mistakes? Either we should let them go or learn from them. The past is not gonna come ever. Let the bygones be bygones. An optimistic approach never sticks to past mistakes. Instead, it aims at learning from those mistakes. Human psychology plays a crucial role in determining your health status. The more you are hopeful towards things; the lesser the chances of deterioration of your health. Think about your goals and analyze your present position. It’s never too late to become triumphant.
Always look for the solution
Honestly speaking we have become a lazy generation. This laziness doesn’t let us achieve anything. We love our comfort zone and we tend to choose it every time. People having the potential of doing something are also restricted to their zones these days. We cannot achieve our goals until we leave our comfort zones. Success is not something that can be achieved by doing parties and resting all the time. It demands hard work, dedication and consistency. A lazy mind never looks for the solution to problems. A lazy person here is depicted as a pessimist. If one plan fails then he will not look for an alternate. He will just consider it destiny and will return to his comfortable couch. Whenever an optimist becomes stuck in a problem the first question that arises in his mind is:
What’s the plan B now? What can I do to make it better?
Try finding ways. You will surely come up with something. It is better to have something in your hands than nothing. Practising these things will change your mindset one day eventually. An optimist person takes the initiative immediately and starts working on it. They don’t wait for things to happen; they make things happen. Quit making excuses and try to be a more practical person.
Avoid pessimism
The counterpart to every emotion exists in this universe. Where there is love there is hate. Similarly where there is optimism; there is pessimism. Choose your company wisely. Friends and family play a vital role in building your self-esteem and confidence. If you are by chance unfortunate then these two can help you destruct your self-esteem as well. So try to be cautious about choosing your people. Never let anyone ruin your positive energy. If anyone brings negative energy by complaining about people and worldly things then kick them out instantly.
“To be of good quality, you have to excuse yourself from the presence of shallow and callow-minded individuals” Michael Bassey
Body language matters
A person’s body language tells a lot about his personality and mindset. A person with a dull and low-witted mindset will always have deep down shoulders and head facing the ground like he is the culprit of some undone crime. Whereas a confident person is always chinned up with broad shoulders facing the audience. These gestures throw a positive impression towards the audience making them think that you are a highly self-esteemed individual. If you are a beginner, you may be reluctant to do it. But still do it anyway. Fake it till you make it.
Laughter is a wine for the soul
A good laugh can help you heal a lot of hurts. Why do comedians live longer than normal people? It is just because they are masters at presenting everything humorous. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh frequently. Or just become a comedian. I think that does not cost much. According to a study at Maryland university, it is revealed that laughing helps increase blood flow. It helps reduce the risk of coronary diseases. It releases endorphins that reduce your cravings, stress, and anxiety and makes you feel cheerful. When there are this many benefits of laughing. Then what are you guys waiting for?
Exercise
It not only keeps you in shape but also helps in releasing endorphins in the body. Endorphins are the happy hormones keeping you cheerful and optimistic all day. So what’s keeping you from exercising? Let’s do this, fellas!
Thanks for reading!