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7 Optimistic Things You Should Do. Developing optimism is a skill like any other that improves with practice. According to counsellor David Yadush, optimism can be strengthened by implementing routines that support a positive frame of mind. Much as we create rituals for learning new physical skills, we also need dedicated practices for emotional goals.

Yadush notes that optimistic thinking correlates with significant life benefits – more effective stress management, greater resilience during hard times, and enhanced well-being and motivation overall. Maintaining this outlook depends less on circumstances and more on habitual thought patterns.

What Experts Say

Mental health experts have identified practices commonly employed by those keeping spirits high. Focused attention shapes our lens over time.

One approach is learning optimism from those who think, live, and make choices from a happy perspective, especially in challenging periods.

Their strategies can inspire us to also view life with a constructively hopeful attitude when it’s easy to lose perspective. Small, consistent efforts ultimately compound into a considerable impact on mood and experiences.

Adopting proven techniques empowers us to strengthen optimism as a skill for all seasons.

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Optimistic and Healthy Habits You Should Adopt

While optimism typically involves seeing the glass as half full, there is a fine line between that and toxic positivity, which denies negative emotions.

Allow yourself to feel everything

According to author Olivia Howell, toxic positivity is an unhelpful mindset as it prevents acknowledging the full spectrum of human experience, both good and bad.

True optimism does not necessarily mean always appearing positive or finding silver linings. Howell notes this common misconception: true optimism allows and respects feeling all emotions.

The optimistic person has confidence in both themselves and others to get through hard times together.

When faced with challenges, the optimistic approach is not blind hope but an honest assessment of needs. Howell says optimistic individuals thoughtfully process moments rather than gloss over difficulties.

Even on low days, they envision moving forward step by step rather than burying difficult feelings.

Optimism’s commitment lies in earnestly hoping for a better future while realistically supporting one’s current self and situation.

This involves reflecting upon experiences fully with care, understanding, and community to find a constructive path ahead – rather than denying or dismissing pain through forced positivity.

Stay in the moment

Ruminating about potential future problems is a common driver of anxiety, according to social worker Gabriella Giachin.

However, she notes that true optimism involves focusing on control over what is happening right now rather than what may happen.

Giachin explains that an optimistic mindset recognises the present moment as the only time we can directly influence or change it. Optimism emerges from fully engaging with the situation currently at hand.

From this stance, one knows they have the tools to either address what’s occurring or learn what’s needed to handle future circumstances.

The next time negative thoughts or worries about the future start to take hold, Giachin recommends using mindfulness practices to reconnect with the present.

Taking stock of the sensory details around you—what you see, feel, hear, and smell in that instant—can help anchor attention firmly in reality.

Engaging the senses provides a grounding technique to exit spirals of unproductive speculation.

By focusing one’s awareness wholly on the current environment, one regains perspective on managing the issues actually at play instead of imaginary potential problems.

This ability to shift focus back to the solutions at hand when anxiety arises is a trait shared by those who maintain optimism even in stressful times.

Focus on your abilities and unique value—not failure

Marla Albertie points out that, while everyone has strengths, failure is also an inevitable part of personal growth. The key difference between optimists and pessimists lies in their perspective on setbacks.

Optimists believe mistakes present learning opportunities rather than total losses. They view challenges as natural parts of progress that afford reflection and improvement. This growth mindset stems from positively regarding one’s abilities as well as having faith in oneself to overcome hurdles.

Rather than self-criticism, Albertie advises focusing on accomplishments, even if imperfect. Did you try something new or step outside your comfort zone? These represent wins already. Seeking to understand one’s shortcomings better also helps optimists persevere.

The next time a presentation or project falls short, focus on viewing it as a chance to gather feedback and enhance skills. Jot down what went well too – our wins often get overlooked amid perceived flaws.

With a habit of appreciating efforts and a drive to constantly refine, optimists transform each experience into fuel for future success instead of a reason for defeat. This resilient approach maintains positivity even when facing setbacks.

Use positive reframing techniques

It’s easy for stressful events like difficult conversations or relationship disagreements to trigger negative thought patterns like catastrophizing. However, research shows that consciously applying optimistic reframing techniques can help maintain a healthier perspective.

According to Dr. Janis Whitlock, optimists work to see situations in a more neutral or even positive light. When experiencing inconveniences or hardships, they look for silver linings—how circumstances may provide insights or opportunities—rather than conclude it’s entirely bad.

Whitlock notes that optimists allow themselves to fully experience difficult emotions without immediately reacting in a bitter or resentful way. They sit with hard feelings until they pass, then gently consider if viewing things slightly differently reveals any benefits.

For example, rather than assume the worst outcome from a challenging discussion, optimists try reframing it as an opportunity to gain understanding.

This stops situations from spiralling mentally while also leaving space for personal growth. By pausing negative automatic thoughts, one retains the ability to see situations with more nuance and compassion, even during trying times.

Overall, practicing reframing helps optimists navigate stress more calmly by consciously curbing habitual reactions like catastrophizing. It’s a learned skill that maintains a hopeful outlook even in the face of life’s inconveniences.

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Know how and when to say No

While saying “yes” to everything seems like the approach someone with an optimistic attitude would take, Olivia Howell notes that this can actually undermine positivity in the long run. True optimism stems from pursuing balance and joy in one’s life.

If certain activities deplete energy without providing fulfilment, agreeing to them runs counter to maintaining a grounded, confident perspective. While obligatory responsibilities require occasionally doing draining tasks, prioritising overall happiness should still be factored in.

By constantly putting others’ needs above one’s own well-being through an inability to say “no,” a person denies themselves the very basis for optimism – feeling positive about the future.

Howell explains this by saying “yes” regularly but saying “no” to what saps life’s enjoyment, which is what gives clarity and peace of mind.

Those mental and emotional reserves are what let optimists weather challenges with gusto.

So counterintuitively, selectively declining invitations or commitments that don’t align with nurturing joy better positions someone to greet each new day—and whatever it may hold—from a grounded place of inner strength.

Overall, selective refusals fuel the resilience that optimism depends on.

Practice Gratitude

While gratitude is often spoken of as a choice, mental health experts note that it is truly a core practice for optimists. As Marla Albertie explains, they express thanks by accentuating what they have rather than lacking. This fuels appreciation for life’s brighter moments.

However, even optimists encounter stressful periods with more storms than the sun. During darker times, Janis Whitlock advises optimists to notice the tiny daily joys often overlooked.

A brief smile, small acts of kindness, or subtle signs of change in nature all qualify.

Whitlock says focusing on these little positivity-rich details rather than major happiness events influences one’s mindset powerfully.

When going through difficulty, optimists continue to select optimism by clinging to whatever good remains around them, no matter how small it seems.

By redirecting attention to daily blessings rather than bleakness, optimists retain the ability to feel grateful even in less sunny spaces.

Their habitual search for brightness keeps hope alive during life’s storms. These regular practices of pausing to notice simple joys sustain optimism on both clear and cloudy days.

Surround yourself with supportive people

Those around us easily influence our mindsets. Being near perpetual pessimists makes negativity feel contagious, while an upbeat company subtly shifts our perspective towards optimism.

As a commitment to seeing life’s brighter side, experts advise seeking relationships that align with this goal. Friends, family, counsellors, coaches and healers provide external support when our internal optimism wavers.

According to Olivia Howell, true optimists understand the value of community during tough times. They recognise certain days may lack personal strength, so reach out instead of isolating in the gloom. Sharing positive company acts as a pick-me-up.

Howell refers to this as self-care—prioritising connection with those who bolster hope. Surrounding yourself with uplifting people creates a mutual support network, where each boosts the other on darker days.

Overall, by filling one’s world with supporters invested in a solution-driven mindset, optimists make positivity accessible even when their own resolve needs buoying up. Their communities become a caring team, helping maintain sunny perspectives through life’s challenges.