Practice Optimism
One way to learn to be more optimistic is to look at how you view negative experiences. When bad things happen, do you look at it as something unique to the situation that that will pass (optimistic) or as something that happens all the time to you and there's nothing you can do about it (pessimistic)?
If you notice yourself thinking or talking in negative ways - stop to imagine what an optimist might say. The more you practice being optimistic, the more likely you can shift your outlook to a more positive one. This can lead to greater success, improved mental health, and less reliance on alcohol and drugs.
Try this exercise to see if you can flip pessimistic viewpoints into optimistic ones.
Questions
No, that's not the most optimistic choice.
The first statement reflects a belief that the stress is the result of personal deficiencies with no room for improvement. This statement also indicates that they are resigned to not being good at something.
The second choice is the most optimistic. This viewpoint acknowledges shortcomings, but aims to improve future efforts to obtain a better result.
The third choice is a pessimistic viewpoint that reflects a belief that today's events are reflective of pervasive and unchangeable difficulties.
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