Why not enjoy your life?

Enjoy Your Life: Change Your Point of View.


"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars."- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

If you’ve placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you become discouraged and find an excuse not to participate the next time?

In life, we are constantly presented with choices. You may opt to take a pessimist’s  point of view and live a life filled with self defeat, or you may opt to take the optimist’s outlook and experience a challenging and fulfilling life.

So why nurture an optimist’s point of view?  Why now?

Well, optimism generates positive moods and good morale. Optimism helps lead to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success.  As well as leading to popularity, optimism encourages good health and may even lead to an extended life span and more freedom from trauma.

The rates of depression and pessimism seem to have reached a significantly high point in our lifetime. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it affects younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but instead is also a disorder acquired by teenagers', middle aged men, and members of the senior population.

Here is a general idea of how optimists tend to behave and some opinions about why optimism increases your overall quality of life.

Optimists expect the best.

The defining characteristic of a pessimist is that they tend to believe that bad events; which will undoubtedly last a long time, and undermine everything they do; repeatedly occur because of some fault in their actions.

The truth is, optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks and obstacles in their lifetimes. What tends to differ is the ways in which the two groups explain their misfortune.  Optimists tend to believe that defeat is just a temporary setback and that its causes are confined to this one case.  While pessimists tend to see each setback as fated to occur and repeatedly occur.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the 'problem' at hand. They use 'positive reinterpretation.' In other words, they most likely interpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and to grow. Such people are more likely to be unimpeded by tough times.  Optimists perceive these setbacks as challenges to overcome, and try, try again.

Optimists do not often take the opinions that: “things will never get better”,  “if I failed once, I will fail again”, or “if I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will undoubtedly apply throughout my entire life”.

The positive outlook of optimists also predicts better reactions to hard times such as: transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies or an unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities in their life instead of obstacles.

People respond positively to optimists.

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their own happiness. They tend to find less need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people in rather than push people away. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are around.

Optimism seems to be a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted, while those who spread gloom, panic and misfortune are perceived less favorably.

In life, it often seems that people determined to create and receive a positive outlook in their life often win more elections; receive nominations for things such as:  most congenial person in their class and are more likely to be sought after for advice.

When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher, or they get going.

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress as opposed to pessimists. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist, or by avoiding dealing with the problem(s). Pessimists are more likely to quit giving effort when difficulties present themselves, especially repeatedly.

Optimists tend to persevere. Optimists often display perseverance and patience in large amounts.  Their life processes may involve something as mundane as continually inching their way a step closer to their goal or elusive dream.

Optimists are healthier and tend to have longer life spans.

Medical research has justified that recognizing simple pleasures and maintaining a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease.

An optimists is more likely to enjoy good health. They age well and they are often much freer than people who remain tied to the negative vibrations generated by themselves and others.  It seems to me that optimists tend to outlive those strapped down by negativity and a constant pessimistic outlook and approach.  By telling a positive story about their lives, optimists tend to be rewarded with abundance by the universe.

So why not be an optimist today?  Believe and understand that with a positive outlook and demeanor, your quality of life will be much higher.  You will be more likely to enjoy positive, nurturing relationships.  Every day has the chance to present more joy and happiness to your life.

Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everyone else, we are all bound to hit lows at points throughout our lives.  The trick is to not dwell on the bad times or occurrences.  Do not hold on to that negative vibration. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see their life on the bright side?  By helping others to find a more positive outlook on life, you will be in turn rewarded and will receive benevolence and abundance from the universe.

Here are a couple of positive affirmations for you:
"I am attracting emotionally available partners to my loving and giving spirit."
"I feel completely at ease and comfortable with all types of people."
"I am successful in whatever I do."

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