Optimism: Life is Better When the Glass is Half Full

It’s been said that optimism is a force multiplier—it can energize entire groups of people to look for the good in a situation. And when people are looking for the good, anything is possible.

We absolutely believe this to be true.

In this issue of High Impact Insights, we’ll share with you what optimism is and why it matters. We’ll also share three ways you can personally become more optimistic in your daily life.

What is Optimism?

Winston Churchill once said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” That, in a nutshell, is optimism. The definition of optimism is the individual belief that the outcomes of events or experiences will generally be positive.

Why Does Optimism Matter?

According to some of the world’s best researchers, optimists have healthier outlooks and tend to live longer than their more pessimistic counterparts. They’re also less susceptible to the negative effects of illness, fatigue, and depression. In times like these, with so many unknowns, optimism can be a game-changer.

Three Ways to be More Optimistic

To help you become more optimistic, we’ve scoured the research to help you identify the most important things you can do:

1. Ask yourself: What are the good things that will come from this?Optimists are always looking for the good in every situation—and this question tees it up for you.And while there is little question that the COVID-19 pandemic will cause some significant pain and suffering, there are also some very real—and positive—things that will come from it.For example, it is likely that we will be more apt to appreciate the little things in life like going to a movie or grabbing a bite to eat at a restaurant. And we will all probably be better prepared when it comes to making sure that our families are emotionally and mentally able to get through prolonged difficulties.
2. Remind yourself that tough times don’t last forever.If we genuinely believe that tough times will most assuredly pass, we’ll find the strength to endure. And with this newfound strength, we’ll begin eagerly looking forward to better days.Believe it or not, this timeless mindset has allowed countless individuals throughout history to endure extreme hardships—even in the face pandemics, wars, and natural disasters.Remember the words of the Dalai Lama XIV, “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”
3. Make a daily list of three things for which you are gratefulNumerous studies have found that writing in a journal about what you are grateful for is indisputably linked to greater feelings of optimism. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

Parting Thoughts

In this issue of High Impact Insights, we’ve reviewed the benefits and power of optimism.  The good news is if you want to, you can become an optimist. Practicing the three techniques set forth in this article will get you well on your way.