Learn to be more optimistic, and to stay happy, with these five insights found with the help of The Huffington Post. Even if you’re feeling down, these insights will help you find the courage to lift yourself back up.
1) “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Life is made up of the way that you react to things. The little things, the big things, and the little things that become the big things. Keep your life under control and stay optimistic by not getting thrown off by the little things. “If it’s not going to affect your health, livelihood, marriage or family, chances are it’s a molehill and not a mountain.” Don’t push the little things to become the big things if you don’t have to because you will be much happier in life if you feel as though you are in control of your life, which happens when you can take control of the little things and not let them run you down.
2) “Breathing space.”
“Having space to decompress after a long day or sometimes mid-way through the day is essential in focusing your energy on the right things.” If you are always around people, you will always be using energy. Try to ensure that you have a little bit of time in your everyday routine to kick back and relax and take a deep breath of air. Savor your alone time and savor the time that you can spend meditating, praying, or merely just stepping back and taking a look at your life and your goals. You will feel more optimistic and in control of your life if you give yourself the time to reflect.
3) “Who’s your squad?”
Your friends, your family, and the people you are surrounded with on a daily basis will influence how your mood is shaped. Remind yourself of the value of these people, and remind yourself of the importance of choosing the right people to spend time with. Be sure that you are electing to spend time with people who you know are on a similar path as your own, with people who are also go-getters and who are not going to sit back and be negative about everything in life. If you are seeking optimism, look around yourself and see who you are spending your time with. Are they optimistic? They will influence you in the long run, so make sure that you are making the right decisions regarding your friends.
4) “Let it go.”
If you hold onto poison, you will only hurt yourself. “Don’t let (things) fester inside of you, draining you of all your capacity to function.” When you are dealing with conflicts or with problems, be sure that you are handling them and then moving on. If you can’t change something, don’t spend your days contemplating it or wondering what could have been. Sometimes you just need to drop the pieces and move forward in life, accepting where you are and who you are and what has happened, so that you can continue to grow and work towards your own goals and achievements.
5) “Encouragement breeds gratitude.”
Finally, one of the greatest things that optimistic people do every day is encourage the people around them to live their best lives. Zig Ziglar always said, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” This applies in every aspect of your life. Motivating others and helping them reach their goals will give you a sense of fulfillment that is hard to match anywhere else. Try it out – try helping others reach their goals – and see how it makes you feel.