15 Ways to Live Optimistically

Expect the best for yourself and others.

Set goals for yourself and work toward them. Help your children set goals and identify ways to reach them.

Keep a clear, detailed picture of your goal in your mind. Focus on what you want, rather than on avoiding what you don’t want.

Respect people’s dreams, even if they seem impossible.

Practice persistence.

Watch how often you express negative or pessimistic thoughts, or have negative expectations. (For example, do you say something like, “It figures!” when something bad happens?)

Look for the good that can come out of bad experiences. Remember that disappointments often precede something even better than you originally expected.

Develop a picture of the world (and your life) as a place of infinite, positive possibilities, even better than you can imagine.

Fight fear with faith.

Develop “an attitude of gratitude.”

Keep your thoughts positive. Notice and acknowledge when you slip into fear, doubt and negativity. Make a deliberate effort to switch to more positive feelings and thoughts.

Minimize the amount of time you spend with negative or pessimistic people or, if possible, avoid them altogether.

Make a deliberate effort to eliminate doubt and cynicism. They really don’t protect you from much of anything. (Try, “Well, why not?” instead.)

Minimize your exposure to negative or pessimistic information, news and literature. Seek out positive, uplifting resources and read or listen to them regularly.

Understand that pessimism, negativity and “scarcity thinking” are all learned traits. They can be unlearned and replaced with more constructive alternatives.