9 Powerful Ways How Optimism Can Uplift Your Life Status And Quite Possibly Save Your Life

“Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud and one sees the stars.” ~ Frederick Langbridge

Post written by Kevin Tyler Smith. Connect with me on Twitter. I always enjoy meeting new people.

There I was in my assigned lane in my very first track meet in high school. The starting gun sounded and I tore out of the blocks running as fast as my legs could take me. Within a few seconds I was the second runner to cross the finish line and was quite pleased with my time results. Considering where I placed, I knew I had something to strive for if I wanted to win the next time.

When I returned home from the meet later that night, I sat at the table to eat the meal mother had prepared for me. As we talked, she anxiously asked about the results of my race.

My response, “I placed second”.

I could see the excitement and pride in her eyes. Her little boy finished second in his race. Then out of the blue she asked,  ”How many were in the race?” With a little hesitation I uttered one simple word, “two”. She began to chuckle with pride at my optimism. In my point of view, I didn’t finish last….I placed second.

Here’s The Rub…

If you have ever placed second in any contest of any sort you are confronted with two very distinct response options. You can either jump for joy and push for better results next time or be discouraged and find an excuse not to participate again.

The one thing I know for sure, I am always faced with choices in life. As I get older I find my response to those choices comes more naturally. I can either have a pessimist’s view and live in self-defeat or I can take the optimist’s route and welcome the challenge.

Optimism vs. Pessimism

In this day and age the rates of depression and pessimism are at an all time high. These conditions don’t discriminate either. It affects middle-aged adults as well as the younger generation. Actually, I read where the mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. This is quite alarming that so many people, especially the very young, are owning the defining characteristics of a pessimist which is to believe bad events will last a long time and undermine everything they do.

In reality, optimists are bombarded with the same hard knocks. The difference is how they respond. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback and employ the use of “positive reinterpretation”. In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow and are unfazed by a bad situation or not winning a race.

Why Nurturing Optimism Just Might Be A Good Idea

It’s hard to argue with the advantages of optimism. It has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

To be concise, consider these advantages:

1. The positive expectancy of an optimist predicts better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.
2. People respond positively to optimists.
3. Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those around them.
4. Optimism seems to be a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.
5. In life, the optimist is more likely to win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.
6. When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher.
7. The optimist typically maintains a higher level of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.
8. Optimists persevere. They don’t give up easily and are known for their patience.
9. Optimists are healthier and live longer. Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body’s ability to fight disease. They also age well and are much more free than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age and outliving those prone to negative thoughts.

I have a few practical truths and exercises I believe in with all my heart that keep me grounded in optimism that I would like to share with you. Feel free to adopt them as your own.

• Let go of the assumption that the world is against you, or that you were born with a gray cloud over your head.
• Understand your past does not equal your future.
• Strive for positivity and use positive affirmations daily.
• Remember that life is short.
• Support a cause you believe in.
• Avoid negative people. (You don’t want to become a product of their environment)
• Connect to your spiritual power source.

Our time on this earth is limited, thats for sure. I think spending this time living in defeat is a tragedy to the power of ten. With that said, don’t you think its time to remove the dark-colored glasses and start seeing life on the bright side?

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