9 Secrets to Being More Optimistic

Optimism is key for setting new goals and reaching them. It also permits us to adapt to changes, worries and stress in our lives.

Optimism gives us the confidence necessary to find real solutions to the problems we face. It is a vital element to happiness and this is why today I am giving you some advice for maintaining a healthy dose of optimism in your day-to-day life.

1 – Imagine your ideal life every day

Take a moment every day to imagine what your ideal life would be like. Though, it’s best no to spend too much time doing this, as that can be counterproductive.

Only give yourself a few minutes, but imagine as many details as possible: how you dress, how you feel, what you do, where you live, who is with you, etc. Thirty seconds may be enough for you. This exercise will help you to think differently about who you are, your possibilities, and the future.

2- Surround yourself with optimistic people

To a large extent we are the product of our environment. If you surround yourself with negative people, you won’t have much chance to smile. Distance yourself from negativity at all costs.

Seek friends who are optimistic and always willing to support you. Optimism is a learned habit and you need to have people near you who are already living it and can infect you with it.

3 – Focus on solutions, not problems

There are people who go through life looking for problems. Don’t be one of those people. If you are presented with a problem, give yourself time to analyze it, feel frustrated, and doubt. Then prepare yourself to look for the best solution or way to improve the situation.

When you stop thinking about the challenge and focus on the solution, you feel in control and can see new possibilities. You will invariably notice yourself being more optimistic.

4- Look on the bright side

It seems like optimists are always experiencing good times or having good luck. This can get frustrating for those looking on from outside.

What you may not have thought about is the fact that optimistic people are able to see the best in every situation and also seek to improve every moment.

Imagine that you want to lose weight, but you only manage to lose two pounds. It can seem like very little and be frustrating, but an optimistic person would see it as a small achievement indicating that they are going in the right direction.

Optimistic people know that every baby step is vital on the path to success.

5- Look for people who inspire you

Optimists don’t settle for achieving what they set out to do. They always go one step further and they’re always looking for more.

One way to do this is to look for a person who inspires you. Look for someone that you admire and that inspires you to keep pushing forward. That way when you feel like throwing in the towel, you can imagine what that person would do.

It can be a highly renowned athlete, a friend that you admire, a teacher with great achievements, or anyone you choose.

6- Recognize your accomplishments

One of the hardest things for us is recognizing our day-to-day achievements. Optimists know that they can always pursue a new goal, but they also know how to recognize what they have done well.

Take a few minutes at the end of the day to identify your achievements and congratulate yourself. This simple gesture will give you more security, more self-esteem, and more confidence in yourself.

7- Work on things that you can control

Pessimism results from wasting time thinking about things that already happened and that you can’t fix while avoiding new opportunities.

Optimism is based on accepting things you cannot change and working on ones that you are in control of. If you don’t like your job, stop thinking about all the negative aspects of it and start looking for one that you will like.

8- Keep your body healthy

A healthy body will allow you to fully experience all the emotions and sensations. It is easier to feel optimistic when you are healthy.

Things like learning to control stress, following a healthy diet, sleeping well, drinking enough water, and exercising make you happier and help you see the best in life.

9- Focus on the present

This is the last secret for being optimistic and it is perhaps the most important: live today. It doesn’t matter what you did yesterday or what you’ll do tomorrow if you don’t enjoy what you have today. Optimists know how to live in the moment and enjoy every second.