Happiness activity No. 2: Cultivating Optimism

​

Being optimistic involves a choice about how you see the world. It doesn’t mean denying the negative or avoiding all unfavorable information or constantly trying to control situations that cannot be controlled. Optimists are very much aware that positive outcomes are dependent on their efforts (they don’t wait around for good things to happen). Looking at the bright side, noticing what’s right (rather than what’s wrong), feeling good about your future and the future of the world, or simply trusting that you can get through the day all are optimism strategies.

You can practice optimism in multiple ways like keeping “The best possible self diary” and/or “Goals and subgoals diary” or both, and trying to identify and replace your barrier thoughts.

Choose what works best for you.

Learn more here.

 

 

 

Exercise

In 4 consecutive days spend 20 minutes to write a narrative description of your best possible future self. This exercise involves considering your most important, deeply held goals and picturing that they will be achieved.

​

Think about your best possible self means that you imagine yourself in the future, after everything has gone as well as it possibly could. You have worked hard and succeeded at accomplishing all your life goals. Think of this as the realization of your life dreams, and of your own best potentials.

 

Exercise

Another strategy to increase optimistic thinking involves identifying automatic pessimistic thoughts.

For example, you might put a cent in a jar every time you have a pessimistic thought. Then try to replace that thought with a more positive point of view.

 

Write down your barrier thoughts, and then consider ways to reinterpret the situation. In the process, ask yourself questions like…

• What else could this situation or experience mean?

• Can anything good come from it?

• Does it present any opportunities for me?

• What lessons can I learn and apply to the future?

• Did I develop any strengths as a result?