The Hopeful and Confident Lens
In “How I Became an Optimist.”, Tony Schwartz talks about his journey towards being a relentless optimist after his business partner decided to no longer work alongside him. He shared that for most of his life, he was always looking through a “cup half empty” lens, that he was always one to look towards discomfort and worry to staying alert in case he meets unprecedented situations. At one point in his life, he had realized that those negative stories he continuously fed his mind with had only made him feel more disempowered and paralyzed, as his feelings of anger, fear, and blame made it harder for him to think with a clear mind. Schwartz started cultivating a “realistic optimism” ritual in the following months where he tells himself hopeful and empowering stories without filtering out the painful truths. Eventually, he found himself never holding onto anger, fear, and doubt as he shifted his focus instead on opportunities that unfolded. He drew strength from the fact that he was no longer squandering energy on feeling sorry for himself or bitter about what had happened in the past.
Optimism is an individual’s mental approach to feeling hopeful and confident in his future despite current adversities. In the study “Optimism and Its Impact on Mental and Physical Well-Being,” Conversano and his co-authors presented the influence of optimism on an individual’s physical and mental health, as it employs various coping strategies that create an indirect effect on the quality of one’s life.
Do I have an Optimistic Mind?
David William, an entrepreneur and founding editor of WebWriterSpotlight.com., shares nine characteristics of optimistic people. Are you one of them?
- You count your blessings.
- You make the most of all opportunities.
- You believe in yourself.
- You also believe in others.
- You use positive self-talk to reinforce actions.
- You turn envy and jealousy into catalysts for success.
- You don’t make experiences a fulfilling prophecy of what lies ahead.
- You choose not to blame others
- You forgive.
Daily Measures of an Optimistic Approach
The Negativity Bias psychological phenomenon explains that individuals are more inclined to dwell and fixate on negative experiences because these have a more remarkable impression on our brains than positive ones. As humans, we allow such circumstances to have a powerful effect on our mindset, behavior, and relationships.
To counter the effects of Negativity Bias, one can show optimism in a few ways each day:
Analyze your thoughts and give yourself much-need positive self-talk. When you are put into a difficult situation, take a moment to pause. Think of all the efforts and sacrifices you have made to get yourself to where you are today. You deserve as much credit and recognition for all the good things that have happened to you!
Start magnifying your strengths and capabilities. It is so easy to think of our weaknesses and mistakes that we often forget our strengths and skills. Take a moment to appreciate all the good things about you that have contributed to your self-development.
Think realistically and start being mindful. In the face of adversity, it is difficult to envision a hopeful future, but what if you start imagining the endless opportunities in store for you? When tempted to look towards the negative, learn to acknowledge what you can and cannot control in situations. The beauty of life lies in both its positive and negative experiences. Being aware of your feelings inclines you to take the necessary actions instead of proceeding with hate, self-loathing, and judgment.
Check your social circles. Just like diseases, negativity is contagious! Notice the people you constantly spend most of your time with each day: are they gossipers or complainers? If yes, then maybe it is time for you to spend less time with them and start connecting more with joyful, ambitious, and positive people.
Optimism as a Predictor of Good Mental Health
One systematic review by Uribe, Espejo, and Pedroso presented a synthesis of findings that reflected the significant influence of optimism on the mental health of adolescence. Similarly, Conversano and his co-authors’ study established the role of optimism in moderating feelings of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideas, and the loss of hope. Optimism influences a person to take on adaptive behaviors associated with improved flexibility, heightened resiliency amid problems, and an efficient evaluation of negative experiences. This hopeful and confident outlook functions as both a predictor of good mental health and a buffer against stress (Uribe, Espejo, & Pedroso, 2021).
Optimism as a Preventive Healthcare
Nurturing an optimistic mental approach correlates with better physical well-being than those with a pessimistic mindset. Rozanski and colleagues performed a meta-analysis of 15 studies; their findings suggest that being optimistic is associated with lower cardiovascular risk and that reducing pessimism may be necessary for preventive healthcare. As implied by the title of a study in 2003, “Dispositional optimism predicts survival status one year after diagnosis in head and neck cancer patients,” optimistic people have shown a greater survival rate a year after disease diagnosis. A healthy and optimistic mental attitude imparts an elevated sense of happiness and positive emotions despite difficulties.
Optimism as a Flexible Approach Amid Adversity
Engaging in an optimistic mindset enacts an effective coping mechanism that reduces stressors from difficult situations. An optimist’s confidence in the future prompts him to adjust his approach toward his goals flexibly, as he is particularly aware of the adversities and circumstances that may evolve. An optimistic mental approach will manifest itself, employing seeking empathic social support, evaluation of the situation, and polite humor, resulting in an evident improvement in the quality of life. On the other hand, pessimists are often wired to ignore, detach, and escape from these stressors and difficult emotions, leading to a feeling of impotence and lack of genuine satisfaction for life.
Optimism is the enemy of despair. Constantly committing yourself to pursue a hopeful and confident perspective not only benefits you in the long run but will significantly influence the people around you to take on a healthier mindset as well.
