15 Ways to Live Optimistically
by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.
Suggestions for increasing positivity, hope and optimism in your life
and the lives of our loved ones.
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.
Excerpted and adapted from The Parent’s Little Book of Lists:
Do’s & Don’ts of Effective Parenting by Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.,
© 1997, Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield Beach, FL.
Buy The Parent’s Little Book of Lists: Do’s and Don’ts of Effective Parenting.
Buy Magic, Miracles, and Synchronicity: A Joural of Gratitude and Awareness and visit our new Web site devoted to these issues.
Related Handouts:
8 Ways to Live in Gratitude
Dimensions of Gratitude
Other handouts by Dr. Jane Bluestein
Complete alphabetical listing of all handouts on this site.
Articles and excerpts by Dr. Jane Bluestein
Complete
alphabetical listing of all articles on this site.
Complete listing of all articles and handouts in Spanish or French.
Books, Articles, Audio and Video Resources and other Resources by Dr. Jane
Bluestein
Humor and Fun: Brighten your day with fun facts, short pieces about kids, pets and work, and hilarious things kids say, do and write. Includes items you can share with kids or use as a springboard for discussions and activities.
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