To be more optimistic do 7 things to improve success.

In a recent poll on LinkedIn I asked a very simply question. How are you feeling about the future optimistic or pessimistic?

I was pleasantly surprised that over 88% of the over 6,000 respondents said they were feeling optimistic!

That’s not bad on the tail end of a worldwide pandemic with millions of people out of work and astronomically high levels of mental illness, depression, and uncertainty.

Several people suggested a third option, being realistic. I agree, realism has a significant place in my personal brand of optimism.

Regardless of what type of optimism you practice the definition of being optimistic is contingent upon our ability to harness the power of unpleasant situations and use it to our advantage.

It also demands taking action to improve our circumstances in a positive way that benefits the outcome to a satisfactory conclusion.

An optimistic person refuses to allow events to define “who they are”. Unpleasant situations aren’t a product of something that happens “to them” because of personal failures, mistakes or individual attributes. 

Optimistic people realize life doesn’t always go their way and they respond by focusing on self-improvement and hard work. It’s the quintessential growth mindset in action.

The pessimist believes good fortune is the product of good luck, privilege, or a myriad of other easy explanations for someone’s good fortune. Seldom does the idea that the individual dedicated tremendous effort to achieve great success register.

The good news, we can have a massive impact on our ability to improve our perception of the future by cultivating more optimism.

“A pessimist is a person who thinks everybody is as nasty as themselves and hates them for it.” ― George Bernard Shaw

To be more optimistic do 7 things to improve success:

Mindful

Mindfulness is a great way to start being more cognizant of how we view life events and structure a response that puts us in the driver’s seat. By focusing on being present, we learn to grapple with our emotions and employ creative solutions that emphasize forward momentum. It helps us spend less time ruminating about the past and suffering anxiety about the future. 

Gratitude

The is no question gratitude plays a critical role in our ability to be more optimistic. Learning to appreciate what we have and expressing those blessings daily improves resilience. Show me a person filled with gratitude, and I will show you an optimistic person that refuses to let uncontrollable events dominate their thoughts.   

Write

After my father passed away four years ago, I took writing seriously. I don’t necessarily journal, but I get my thoughts on paper every single day. That’s how these articles are created.  Research shows that expressive writing improves wellbeing and reduces negative feelings. Take a few minutes and write down the things you’re grateful for and organize your plan for making personal progress. It’s a great exercise.     

“Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something is not to your liking, change your liking.” ― Rick Steves

Rewire

When we catch ourselves conducting a negative conversation, we need to pause and reprogram our thoughts to contemplate more positive thoughts. It’s a process called cognitive restructuring. Once we start to recognize the triggers that induce negative thinking, we can start to assess our feelings, look at the evidence that refutes these outrageous ideas and focus on facts that enable us to substitute positive alternatives.    

Enhance

The power of positive psychology is well documented. The pioneer of this discipline is Martin Seligman, and his work is powerful. By enhancing our thought process with positive vernacular, we drift in the direction of greater achievement. Enhance your positive energy and perform better by starting to believe in more positive outcomes.   

Persevere

Successful people understand how to persevere, and they respond to setbacks with persistence and determination. Optimistic people don’t give up just because obstacles arise, they press forward. Their approach may change, but their commitment to forward progress doesn’t. The more we persevere, the more success we enjoy. That builds confidence and a pattern of excellence.   

Health

A commitment to better health is at the foundation of being a more optimistic person. I have made health priority number one since age 15. Physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing improves longevity and reduces stress. We also build the stamina required to build big dreams and stimulate endurance. Focus on better overall health, and our attitude automatically becomes more optimistic.   

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ― Winston Churchill  

Sum it up.

Any other suggestions for becoming more optimistic? Share your thoughts in the comments section and please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.  Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming. Steve is an author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success. Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn. Learn more about my work and grab the free Weatherology mobile app by clicking any picture in this article!