Trying to be optimistic doesn't mean ignoring the uglier sides of life. It just means focusing on the positive as much as possible-and it gets easier with practice.
Foster Optimism:
-Write about a positive future.
-Search for the silver lining.
Practice Gratitude:
-share good news
-write a gratitude journal
-write thank you letters
-remind yourself to savor
Avoid Negative Thinking:
-Avoid dwelling on downers.
-Change unhealthy self-talk.
-Ask yourself if your negative thought is really true.
-Consider alternative explanations and avoid all or nothing train of thoughts.
The link then goes on to break down each of these and ways to practice them...
https://www.mhanational.org/stay-positive
What tools/ways do you use to stay positive?
Comments
I'm definitely a silver lining person. And I've done a fairly good job of internalizing self compassion, self talk as a friend rather than a cruel task master. IMO a gratitude practice is one of the most powerful things we can do for our mental health.
I think also taking the attitude, "If there is something to do about it, why worry; If there is nothing you can do about it, why worry" is helpful.
Having an optimistic attitude means you are more likely to notice the positive things in life and are primed to pick up on and take advantage of opportunities when the arise, giving you a greater chance of positive outcomes.
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-benefits-of-optimism-3144811
I drink plenty of cups of tea, take enough rest, and enjoy time spent with loved ones. Also I’m naturally quite optimistic. I’ll have to think about exactly what I do...
I've been trying to be intentional about recognizing the value difficulties have in terms of building character and developing wisdom. The types of suffering I notice and are moved by the most are the ones that I have undergone as well, and I have experience in how to deal with them.
Everything I can.
At the moment personal gardening, spending time on clearing and preparing our garden. The garden was taken up with a felled cherry tree.
I now have cyclamen, narcissi for the spring and my first batch of early broad beans have been putting up shoots (Starting them off indoors) two Buddhas ...
I enjoy taking photos, for example this morning ...
Meditation and yoga, great family food time. All good stuff ...
Anticipate as many outcomes as possible from a given situation or action, and cheerfully accept all of them. Raw optimism is too frequently a one-way ticket to depression, and pessimism is depression perpetuated. Coarse tools produce uneven results.
Be present in the moment. A beautiful moment -be there! An ugly moment - be there!
@lobster! Are those your feet?
By appreciation of the little things in life which are often overlooked...
& developing the habit of letting go...
And of course what I've found important is to maintain a healthy sense of humour ...which enables one to also see the funny side of life, as it ebbs & flows... it's relative nature...Which leads me to lossen up mentally and to not take my so-called life too seriously...
Like the impermanent nature of all component things ...shit also comes and goes...it's nothing special
No they are boots
(I iz positively wikid) 🥰
From the very strange Aghori 😶
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2975435/Incredible-images-life-India-s-cannibal-Aghori-tribe.html
we can perhaps without a need to indulge in their lifestyle, appreciate the inherent 'one taste'. The beauty in the gnarled, twisted grotesque and the ugliness of some cultural beauty.
This going beyond our accustomed norms of perception comes from this be there without judgement and preferences. Be there, be present is good advice. Stillness is our perception of choice ...
But are they your boots?
Interesting article @lobster
As the old saying goes..."Shit happens" ...and they just happen to feed on it too..