Being Optimistic about things can seem challenging at times. As we sit at the start of 2021 looking back at a year which many of us would rather forget it does feels like we do need to focus on being optimistic about the year ahead. But in what ways?
As we are bombarded by sensationalist and conflicting news reports; we hear daily the latest depressing figures about the virus that seems to bring ever more restrictions on our activity and it is little wonder that many can struggle to muster those feelings of optimism.
I must admit, am not a great one for setting New Year Resolutions, because for me the arbitrary use of the start of a year isn’t really something that works. However, what I do like to do is to try and pivot my mindset to focus on how I want to interact with the world in the year ahead.
In my last tweet of 2020, I commented:
- Wherever you are, whoever you are with even if just yourself #BeKind in word, thought and deed.
- Always strive to be the absolute best you can be.
- Always be the better person.
- Always be true to yourself.
Those will be my guiding principles in the year ahead alongside a real focus on the things that really matter to me. My loved ones and friends, my community, and the difference I can make and doing work which help others to be their best selves and at the same time fulfills me.
I also want to ensure that I focus on being optimistic in the face of the challenges that we will all face in the year ahead. That doesn’t mean just ignoring things that are negative or simply saying “things will be fine.” What it does mean is taking action to ensure that I am not dragged down by negativity and pessimism from others.
Ideas for Being Optimistic
If like me you want to commit to being more optimistic in the year ahead, then these ideas about ways being optimistic might help:
- Practice Positivity – If you tend to first thing negatively try to turn your thoughts around by actively pursuing positive thoughts. If a negative thought comes to your mind, turn it around in a positive way.
- Turn Off Your News – You don’t have to be uninformed, but the news is delivered with a lot of sensationalism, and sadly, most people respond more to negativity. That’s why it’s so negative. Get your news from local sources and avoid opinion news and infotainment.
- Journal Your Gratitude Daily – Keep a gratitude journal or use something like Twitter to share your gratitude each day. Each evening jot down three things that you’re grateful for today. You can do it quickly by using simple bullets to describe your gratitude.
- Accept That You Can’t Control Everything – One thing that causes people to lose their hopefulness is loss of control. However, if you can accept that you can’t control everything that can help you be more accepting and therefore, being optimistic.
- Acknowledge but Don’t Focus on Negativity – You cannot ignore negativity totally because they are often real things. Sad events will happen and it’s normal to feel sad, negative, and upset over these things. Don’t place all your focus here though, instead find more things that are positive to focus on.
- Find Friends Who Are Positive Too – They say that birds of a feather flock together. If you have people in your life or on your social media feeds who are especially negative, try to limit your association with them and find more people who share your focus on being optimistic.
- Become Solution Focused – When you focus on creating solutions for the things you do have control over, it’s naturally going to help you with being optimistic.
Being Optimistic Monthly Calendars
If you find yourself in need of some additional ideas about being optimistic and having a positive outlook on the world I can highly recommend the Monthly Calendars that Action for Happiness (click for their Twitter feed) produce. I use them every month and always find inspiration and great ideas.
Below is a copy of their January 2021 Calendar for a Happier January. Do take a copy of it!
Being Optimistic in 2021
Optimism is the ability to see the good in whatever is happening now. Even if you sometimes feel down due to something happening if you can think clearly about it while working through it, you’re still an optimistic person.
There is nothing wrong with being optimistic about life. After all, most of the time, life is wonderful, especially when you learn to be grateful for the small stuff.