Optimism and why it can be helpful.
Optimism is an attitude reflecting a belief or hope that the outcome of a specific endeavour, or outcomes in general, will be positive/favourable.
Why can it be helpful?
Optimism influences action, it helps to prevent and protect against feelings of hopelessness and encourages you to visualise a different future taking steps toward new opportunities, instead of feeling stuck.
How you can be more optimistic:
- Focus on what you can control. Being optimistic isn't about staying positive no matter what it is about is accepting what is in your control. The CIA - control, influence, accept model is great for helping to develop optimism
- Reflect on past experiences where something good came from something hard. Drawing hope from our past experiences of difficulties can help cultivate optimism in the present.
- Identify your feelings. Sweeping generalised statements such as the world is falling a part often triggers feelings of hopelessness. Instead be specific about what is worrying you for example “my partner and I have been arguing a lot”. This helps us avoid an everything is going wrong world view and allows you to see the world in a more optimistic way.
