What makes us Pessimists?
- An experience: People start generalizing bad past experiences to all other experiences. For example, if a person fails in the exam, he
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starts feeling that he will always fail.
- People around Us: It is not just about past experiences but also about the people we are spending our time with because as humans we are influenced by what we see and hear around. And if you see negativity around you it might influence you.
How to cultivate Optimism
- Think of your best possible self- Spend about 15 minutes to think about the best possible circumstances in the future. Consider your goals and your dreams. Take an approach to solve problems from a position of empowerment. See overcoming adversity as a challenge and imagine the best possible self, focus more on the solutions rather than focusing on the problem.
- Challenging your specific negative thoughts- It is the negative thoughts that make us pessimist. The efficient way to understand your negative thoughts is to write them down to record your natural reactions to adversity. Now brainstorm how can you replace your negative thoughts with positive ones. Sharing with you an example.
| Adverse Situation | Negative thought | Replaced positive thought | Problem-solving approach |
| My partner has not called me today | My partner has lost interest in me | My partner’s communication style does not reflect my worth. | Communicate – express my and partner’s needs |
- Always focus more on the positive side of the situation. It is not you will be denying reality but you are just viewing a situation from a different angle.
- Track Your Current Progress- Where was I 5 years back? What has changed since then? What has been my personal growth?
- Keep A Daily Record Of Gratitude- Recall good things in your day? What were your small accomplishments? What or who made you feel better today?
Remember: “When it rains, look for rainbows and when it is dark look for stars”
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