We all know that rare person who wakes up with seemingly boundless energy—smiling even without caffeine and excited to attack their day. To them, drinking glasses are always half full and problems are viewed as “challenges” rather than setbacks. We can’t help envying their apparent joie de vivre. Were they born that way? Maybe. But did you know you can actually train your brain to think more positively?
Naturally, optimistic feelings are more pleasant than their negative counterparts. But there are other potential advantages to putting on a happy face, including lower stress hormone production, better quality of sleep and an overall greater sense of satisfaction/productivity. Just as psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believed that “happiness doesn’t just happen but must be prepared for and cultivated,” the same can be said for optimism. The best part about creating more optimism? It’s contagious. Here are some tips to incorporate more feelin’ good vibes in your life:
– Set a limit on worrying. While we all fret from time to time, ruminating over mistakes and failures or projecting worry and fear on things we cannot control can easily get us stuck in a negative loop. If you need to process a concern, journal about it for five minutes (or call a friend), then make a decision to set it aside while you get on with your day.
– Start and end your day with gratitude. Whether you write it down, pray/meditate about or share it with a loved one, practicing daily gratitude is a regular reminder of what we have that’s good and working.
– Old vocabulary: “mistakes” and “failures.” Let’s call them what they were meant to be: “learning experiences” and “opportunities to grow and improve.”
– Replace “What’s the worst that can happen?” which has the ability to send us to “the dark place,” with “What’s the BEST that can happen?” See how that “hits” differently?
– Pay attention to what’s on your screen – there is no shortage of depressing, discouraging and even scary things to watch on television. If you notice they’re affecting your outlook, though, it might be time to switch to brighter topics. Look for stand-up comedy, uplifting stories and whatever else makes you smile.
Happy July from Insights!