According to studies, optimists tend to have better health, achieve more, and be happier than pessimists.But, there is a catch.Positive outcomes are associated with an optimistic but realistic outlook on the world.A practical approach to life is combined with realistic optimism.You can learn how to harness the power of realistic optimism to achieve your goals.Keep a realistic outlook, nurture your sense of hope, and battle pessimistic thoughts when they arise.
Step 1: You should identify your values.
It's important to know what you value in order to cultivate hope.Take some time to think about what your life would be like if money was not a factor.In an ideal world, what would your relationships, work life, and environment look like?This will help you cultivate hope.
Step 2: Know that you can make a difference in your life.
If you realize that your future is yours, you will be able to get into a more hopeful state of mind.You are in charge of making a decision.You can make it happen if you think about what you want your life to be like in a year.
Step 3: Look for possibilities.
New opportunities arise in your life because of a hopeful mindset.You have a better chance of finding fresh resources if you explore different options.Being open is the best way to discover new things.Try to strike up a conversation with a stranger, take a walk with no set destination, or sign up for a class about something you have always wanted to learn.
Step 4: You can set goals that inspire you.
Setting achievable, time-bound, and specific goals can help you become more hopeful by giving you a positive future to look forward to.Imagine you achieve your goal in as much detail as possible, and think about the different routes you can take to get there.If you want to travel around the world, you could set a goal to save money for a plane ticket.To get you inspired to work towards the goal on a daily basis, you might imagine yourself arriving at your first destination.To make it seem real, think about the sights, sounds, and smells.To make your goals more concrete, write them down and read over them daily.
Step 5: There are reasons to laugh.
Researchers have found that a daily dose of humor can help people feel more optimistic about the future.Positive emotions are stimulated by humor, which encourages a hopeful state of mind.You can watch a comedy on the internet.It's a good idea to spend more time with your silly friend.You could babysit your five-year-old nephew.There is a laughing group in your city.The purpose of these groups is to have a laugh.
Step 6: It's important to focus on gratitude.
When you're dealing with difficult circumstances, it's a good idea to think about the things you are grateful for.By focusing on the positive things in your life, no matter how small or large, you can find more positive events and stay optimistic.Try to keep a gratitude journal.Before you go to bed, take a few minutes to write down several things you are thankful for.You can use a phone app to remind you to add to your gratitude journal.
Step 7: There are cognitive distortions.
Negative or unrealistic thought patterns can make you feel stressed or depressed.Your mind sees reality in a distorted way, which leads to negative events or experiences.Popular psychology has many cognitive distortions.Below are some that are listed.All-or-nothing, or black-and-white thinking, seeing everything in absolutes.They must hate me if they don't love me.Attaching your reality to your current emotional state is emotional reasoning.No one will want to be around me.Identifying flaws excessively is a labeling.I'm a loser.Either mind-reading or fortune-telling can be used to predict a negative future.She didn't speak to me after I saw her.I already know I will make myself look like a fool at the talent show, she must not be my friend anymore.Blowing things out of proportion is called magnification.I wrote an F on my paper.I'm going to fail the class and have to take it over again.Should you use "should," "ought to," or "Must" in your self-talk?I should have known he wasn't fond of me.
Step 8: Negative thought patterns need to be challenged.
You need to learn how to attack their logic if you want to identify cognitive distortions.This will teach you to become a constant observer of what's going through your head and give you power over your thoughts.Start by examining the accuracy of your thoughts, if you notice yourself playing into negative thought patterns.You say "No one likes me."You have to pay attention to see if this is true or not.Consider the evidence.Are you always alone?Sometimes people try to be with you.Do your friends and family like your company?Practice being present.You can't beat yourself about your thoughts.Practice deep breathing when you notice yourself thinking negatively.Inhale the positive and exhale the negative.Think of them as ships coming into your harbor.Allow the positive to dock and steer away from the negative.
Step 9: Take responsibility.
Taking steps to achieve your goals is what realistic hope is all about.People who take responsibility for their choices and believe in their own self-control are more likely to overcome their difficulties.Taking responsibility for yourself doesn't mean you have to control everything.Accepting that things are outside your control means taking responsibility for your choices.
Step 10: Be honest with yourself.
Being realistic requires you to become aware of your biases, flaws, and internal assumptions.Having a clear-eyed view of yourself can help you decide which beliefs you need to change and which ones you don't.Make sure you don't compare yourself to other people.Stay focused on yourself.Do you hold conscious or unconscious beliefs about the world?Do these thought patterns help or hurt you?Maybe you have come to believe that people can't be faithful because they cheated on you.How is this helping you?Will it make a difference in your future relationships?No, it won't.If you need help coming up with an objective assessment of your personality, ask a trusted friend.Friends can help you see yourself in a different way.
Step 11: Determine the challenges you face.
An accurate outlook on life requires a good understanding of the reality of a situation.Don't shy away from noticing the bad as well as the good when you're looking at your current circumstances.If you take negative situations into account, you can change them or work around them.
Step 12: You have to make a plan.
It's the best way to make sure your goals become reality.To be effective, plans don't have to be complex.A good plan should include a component called when and where.You are more likely to follow through on your commitment if you plan when and where you will do the activity.The "if-then" planning method is a great way to make habits stick.If X happens, then Y should follow.It can be a place, a time, or an event.The action you will take is called Y.If it's Monday at 7pm, you know that you should spend 2 hours at the library.Research shows that you are more likely to succeed if you follow this method.
Step 13: Prepare for obstacles.
Life is not a straight upward curve.There are many setbacks along the way.The way you handle setbacks has a lot to do with your success or failure.People who make plans to overcome obstacles tend to be more successful than people who don't.It is realistic to assume that things will go wrong.Things go wrong all the time, often for reasons beyond our control.Pessimism assumes that obstacles are impossible.
Step 14: Look at your expectations.
Sometimes you may feel disappointed if your expectations are unrealistic.If your expectations for yourself are not realistic, consider how you can make them more realistic.If you always expect to get A+ grades on every test you take, then you might be disappointed if you get an A- on a test.If you accept a wider range of grades, you might want to adjust your expectations.
Step 15: Re-examine your beliefs.
Pessimism comes from negative beliefs.Take a step back from your emotions and think about where your feelings are coming from.If you find yourself holding onto self-destructive ideas, remind yourself that they don't have to hold you back.Make sure that you surround yourself with people who are positive.You can find groups on sites like Meetup.com.
Step 16: Logic can be used to fight negative thoughts.
Pessimism is often driven by emotions that don't have much to do with reality.It is possible to see the thoughts for the illusions they are with a rational mindset.If you think one of your coworkers doesn't like you, instead of dwelling on the thought, ask yourself why.Is there a better explanation?It's possible that your coworker is having a bad day.
Step 17: You should remember your successes.
It is easy to see the negatives in your life and forget to look at the positives.To get yourself back into a better state of mind, remind yourself of the good things you have accomplished in the past.Bring to mind all the accomplishments you have achieved and the obstacles that have been overcome in your life.For graduating college, pay yourself on the back.Give yourself a round of applause when you're done with your toxic best friend.
Step 18: Don't think all or nothing.
All-or-nothing thinking puts you in a negative state of mind because it views any mistake, even a minor one, as a failure.No one is perfect.When it is possible to love someone but not like all their habits or qualities, all-or-nothing thinkers may view others as either you love me or you hate me.To challenge how realistic they sound, identify areas of your thinking that match this framework.By focusing on making progress instead of being perfect, we can let go of all-or-nothing thinking.Taking your successes into account will help you improve on your mistakes.Accept that life is unpredictable and be willing to let go of control sometimes.
Step 19: Get in touch for support.
It can be a major cause of pessimism if you feel alone.It is possible to get back into a positive frame of mind if you reach out to someone else.Don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it, social support is a powerful tool for boosting your hope and optimism.If you call a friend and say, "Hey, I've been feeling down lately, do you have a minute to chat?" it will make you feel better.If you are constantly pessimistic, you should see a mental health professional.