Some people choose to see the ugliness in this world. The disarray. I choose to see the beauty. To believe there is an order to our days, a purpose. — Dolores from HBO series Westworld

Are you one of those “half glass full” people?  Have you ever felt frustrated when others viewed you as weak or naive because of your insistence to always look on the bright side?  If you answered “yes” then you’re in good company, and let me tell you why…

First, let’s define optimism and clarify what it IS and what it is NOT. There are several definitions out there but this one fits best with the intent of this blog post:

Optimism is “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.” — Merriam-Webster

Optimism is certainly a learned behavior (and some scientists would argue an hereditary behavior), but it is also a choice. When someone accuses an optimistic person of “seeing the world through rose colored glasses,” they are implying that the optimist has a blind spot — but that is not accurate. The well-balanced optimist sees the world as it truly is but chooses to focus on the good. Here’s a perfect example:

Writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr once said “some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” The writer acknowledges the thorns but chooses to focus on the beauty.

Why would we do this?

It’s Healthier

Countless studies have shown that positive thinking has a beneficial effect on our health. This should not be news to anyone, unless you’ve been living as a curmudgeonly hermit.

“An emerging body of research has suggested that various facets of positive psychological well-being are associated with better health outcomes. In particular, dispositional optimism—the generalized expectation that good things will happen—has been linked with reduced risks of chronic health conditions, especially vascular factors and disease.” — Read the American Journal of Epidemiology article.

Will optimism cure Rheumatoid Arthritis? No, but it may affect my lifestyle choices which in turn could help my body to better fight the disease. I could go on and on about the health benefits, but let’s just say “it’s a no-brainer.”

It Motivates Others

“I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” — Ann Frank

As a manager, I sometimes find myself dealing with difficult employees who everyone hates working with. The first question I ask myself in these situations is “what value does this employee bring to our organization?” That value is what I focus on, with the belief that focusing on their positive attributes will motivate them to improve other areas. The optimist in me believes that when the other person can see the best version of themselves reflected in my eyes, they will eventually rise to that standard.  If that doesn’t work, then I at least sleep well at night knowing I gave them a chance.

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.” — Edith Wharton

I am certainly not alone in this belief. Think of the most motivational people in history, the ones who inspired others to be better humans. What did they have in common?

“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” — Mary Lou Retton

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” — Oprah Winfrey

It Helps with Success

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Whether it’s job promotions, competitions, or relationships, there can be no doubt that people with optimistic outlooks tend to be more successful. A healthy dose of fear or pessimism can drive someone to improve, but they ultimately have to believe in a good outcome to achieve greatness. After all, if you don’t believe it’s possible, you probably will never even try.

How do I become more optimistic?

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” — Maya Angelou

We weren’t all born natural optimists. I certainly wasn’t, but I had wonderful role models growing up and have learned to surround myself with other optimistic thinkers. Like any skill, optimism can be learned and practiced. Here are my suggestions:

• Focus on what you can control & let go of what you can’t.
• Assume the best of others. Sometimes they will disappoint, but they’re more likely to live up to our expectations — so make sure those expectations are good.
• Never be fake. People can see right through that “Barbie doll” cheeriness and they won’t trust you. Always be genuine with yourself and others.
• Remember the old saying “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”  If the negative words about to spring forth from your mouth will serve no positive purpose, then zip it.
• Surround yourself with positive thinking people — optimism is contagious!
• Ask people you trust to hold you accountable. Negative thinking is a bad habit and it can be unlearned. Ask a coworker to give you some kind of signal every time you say something negative OR a high five every time you exhibit positive thinking. Ask your spouse to call you out every time you assume the worst. Use whatever method works best for you.

And last (but not least): if you are already an optimist, find a pessimist to share your thoughts with — you can balance each other out 🙂