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Optimism is a Muscle to be Built
By Syed Saeed Alam (Karachi, Pakistan)
"One of the biggest challenges people face today is staying optimistic."
Unfortunately, we live in times of significant challenges and changes, which generate bad news and stories that negatively affect us and our hope for humanity's goodness.
We get caught up in the wave of negativity the media showcases.
The news can bring us an unconscious feeling of comfort and reflection that at least that didn't happen to me. But unfortunately, this feeling is not a sign of a positive mindset.
One of the biggest challenges people face today is staying optimistic.
In my work, I describe optimism as having a strong and positive attitude towards the future and believing in our capability to shape it in our favour.
People with this significant strength tend to look first for what is right in people, situations, plans and projects. They believe that, in most cases, things will work out for the best.
The mind functions as a reservoir, and we must learn how to supply positive fuel to this reservoir.
Optimism is an attributive style; essentially, we attribute meaning to daily events.
When evaluating a fact of life, pessimistic and optimistic individuals will have opposite perspectives.
For a Positive Fact: "I got a salary raise!"
Optimistic Profile: Everything always works out for me.
Pessimist Profile: My taxes will be even higher now.
For a negative fact: "I lost my house keys."
Optimistic Profile: I always keep everything; someone probably picked them up for me.
Pessimist Profile: I always forget everything; I am confused and distracted!
We don't need to be discouraged if we identify with the pessimist profile. With mental strength and daily training, we can create good and positive in any situation.
Starting with our speech, eliminate negative phrases such as "I can't" and "I always give up".
For example, we may have said, "I am lazy." A better way to frame this in our mind is, "Today, I did not accomplish as much as I wanted to. So, I will make a list for tomorrow to complete all of my tasks!"
Additionally, try to avoid complaining at all costs.
If you are working with a challenging client, try viewing the experience as positive rather than negative. This will allow you to remain in good spirits and help the client most productively.
Make a Note of the Good Things
Another way to train our brain to be more optimistic is by recording positive events in our day, no matter how small it is.
If we pass a gorgeous garden, take a picture or make a note.
If we have a productive conversation with our team, keep a record of the highlights.
By doing this, we will train ourselves to focus on the positives and the joys around us.
An Open Mindset
Every day, we should keep an open mindset to observe the good things around us and practise optimism. It is not easy, but with hard work and diligence, we can remain optimistic in the face of negativity.
With optimism in our hearts and minds, we can walk into the battlefield of life every day, ready to create positive change.
My positivity is infectious, and people buy into what I am saying.
I help people see that they can make a difference by looking at what has worked for them in the past. I help them shift their thinking.
The good news is that if optimistic thinking does not come naturally to us, it is a style we can practise and cultivate.
Optimism is a muscle we can build and strengthen by examining new ways of interpreting and thinking about events.
If optimism is a natural strength for us, think about how we can use or develop it in new and different ways to strengthen and stretch it to society so that we and others benefit from its use more widely.
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