Positive psychologists define optimism as a feeling of hopefulness and confidence about the future. It’s the belief that things will turn out okay. And here’s some great news. The thinking patterns of optimists can be learned. Even if you lean towards pessimism, you can change.
Here are four ways you can embed optimistic thinking habits in your life.
- Keep a gratitude journal. This trains your brain to scan for the positives and feel grateful for even the smallest things.
- Edit your self-talk. Delete negative language and replace it with constructive, solution focused inner dialogue.
- Be curious. Refocus and look through a positive lens. Notice what’s good right now or has the potential to become better in the future.
- Leave the past in the past. Stop dwelling on distressing or upsetting events from the past. Instead, picture the future you want to create and work out how to build it!
Apply these techniques and you will experience lower stress levels, better health outcomes and higher motivation. Take the pessimistic filter off and replace it with an optimistic one today!
About the author of this tip:
Eleanor Shakiba is a positive psychology trainer. She has been training and coaching ‘positive deviants’ since 1994. She delivers customised workshops for corporate teams, as well as practitioner level programs for HR and L&D specialists. Eleanor is the author of the Positive Psychology Toolkit for HR and L&D practitioners. (link to PP toolkit page). She also runs a range of retreats and workshops for trainers and facilitators.
Want to train your team on resilience and learned optimism techniques? Call Eleanor Shakiba. 0433 126 841