Just listening to the news these days can be traumatic, to say the least. We are living in tough times that are bringing about big changes which affect us and our hope for mankind. It seems like our world has turned upside down. How can we be positive and even optimistic during these turbulent times without being caught up in a wave of negativity? There are things we can do to help us maintain a positive perspective during these times.
Optimism is a Learned Emotion
Fortunately for us, optimism is very much a learned emotion that we can train to grow stronger. Our minds function as reservoirs 
and we must learn to fill them up. Optimism is a positive way we attribute meaning to daily events. When faced with a fact of life, optimists and pessimists have opposite perspectives. For example, when an optimist hears the news that they got a pay raise, they might think, “This is terrific; everything always works out for me.” However the pessimist’s thought process might be more like, “Oh no, now my taxes will go up.” The first thing we need to do is eliminate negative phrases from our speech. An example would be instead of saying we are lazy, reframe this thought. Tell ourselves that today we did not accomplish as much as we wanted to and we will make a list for tomorrow so we can get everything done. Next, try to avoid complaining at all costs. Viewing things as a positive challenge rather than a negative situation will allow us to stay in good spirits and be more helpful. By continually working on this cognitive flexing, it will become our trained response. A happier outlook helps us to form more connected relationships and to stick with feel good habits like exercise and good nutrition.
Find Optimistic People to Emulate
We all know people who never fail to see the silver lining and their glass is always half full. Study those people and their bright side, and emulate them. When we are feeling down and negative, picture those people’s faces and think of how they would respond to a situation. Maybe even reach out to them when you are feeling negative about something and ask them how they remain optimistic.
Visualize Negativity
Try visualizing the negativity by asking ourselves “What is the worst that could happen?” If we take a few minutes to imagine the worst case, we will become more grateful for the things we do have. We all know the saying that if we put our problems in a basket with others, we will always end up taking our own problems back. The key is to not dwell on the negative possibilities. By identifying the people and possessions we could lose, it is the way to appreciate them even more.
Schedule Time to Worry
If negative thoughts are bombarding us, schedule a specific time every day to allow ourselves to worry for a specific amount of time, say 15 minutes. If we find ourselves worrying and fretting before that time, we can remind ourselves that now is not the time, we can stress about it at later at our planned timeslot. When that time arrives, write down all the anxieties on paper. This will help us have a feeling of control and allow us to have an inner dialogue to quiet our fears.
Count Your Blessings
Experts in positive psychology encourage people to count their blessings. They suggest counting three things, big or small, that we are thankful for each day. This is something we can do with our families around the dinner table and help them to be more positive too. Or, we can say them during an evening bath, or write in a journal before bed. You can even purchase specific gratitude journals that provide daily spacing for writing three things down through Amazon.com and other sources.
Daily Activities
There are many daily activities we can do to help promote optimism. Exercising is a big one. It reduces stress and is good for our bodies. With all those endorphins being released, it is also great for our mental health. Starting a new TV show is another way to engage our minds in a positive way. Try to choose shows that are fun and upbeat, but also have enough content to hold our interest. Currently, many people are b
inging shows like “Bridgerton” on Netflix or watching feel-good movies. Learning a new skill or picking up an old hobby are ways to keep busy during quarantine and create something new to be excited about. Catching up with friends remotely is another way to create joy and make us feel connected during these difficult times. Just remember to focus conversation on the positives, not the negatives.
A study completed in 2019 found that optimists have a better chance of living to age 85 or older. Positive thinkers tend to exercise, eat healthier, and sleep better. Also, chronic stress is physically unhealthy for our bodies and can make us more prone to things like heart disease and other life-limiting diseases. With optimism in our hearts and minds, we can better handle the daily battlefield of everyday life with a positive attitude and maybe live longer in the process.