Think Positive: 5 Tips to Stop Being Pessimistic

The predominant “ego” and behind-the-scenes “superego” keep our thoughts and emotions in a balanced state. Humans are naturally optimistic creatures, full of dreams, hopeful, patient, idealistic, achievers, and result oriented.

However, we become exactly the opposite when we face difficult times and failure at some point in our lives, such as family and relationship issues, financial crisis, an existing medical condition, and career-related problems.  Constant pessimism is disastrous; it is associated with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. That’s why it’s important to think positive before it’s too late.

Here are some tips to help you stop being pessimistic.

1. Acknowledge the Truth

Many people tend to neglect and divert their negative thoughts or believe that what they are thinking and feeling are just typical parts of human existence. While this is probably true, it results in being used to the negative sides of things, and that’s when you unknowingly show pessimism through your behavior and actions. And you may even deny that you are becoming a pessimist.

However, when you acknowledge that your constant pessimistic thoughts are becoming unhealthy, it will be easier for you to find out the sources of your negative thoughts and objectively resolve them. Don’t hesitate to seek the help of professionals such as those from TG Psychology to help with the process.

Here are the other ways you can acknowledge the truth that you’re starting to display a pessimistic attitude:

• Have a journal and write down the known issues or problems you’re currently facing at the moment, such as “no money to pay the bills” or “lost my job” using a table format.
• Designate a column for the potential issues or problems that you’re concerned or worried about but are not yet happening, such as “possible bankruptcy because of job loss.”
• In the last column, write the possible resolutions or answers you can think of on how you can deal with the problem, such as “apply for home-based online jobs starting tonight.”
• Set short-term and long-term goals to resolve the problem, such as “At the end of the month, I will be able to find an online job that will make use of my writing talent.”
• Update your journal regularly.

2. Engage in New Activities

You’re used to routine activities, and you usually feel tired all day long working for more than 8 hours a day, fetching your kids at school, preparing meals for the family, and so on. It’s easy to get frustrated and pessimistic when you’re exhausted all the time.

Take mini breaks. Why not treat yourself to a foot spa, buy a lovely dress, or set a time each week for yourself alone. Learn yoga or a new pasta recipe, find a date, or fly a kite. Here are the other things you can do:

• Visit your grandparents
• Start gardening
• Learn how to swim
• Attend a tai-chi class
• Declutter and donate your old stuff or sell them online
• Read the Bible
• Teach street children
• Join a reality show

3. Remember Your Achievements

When you start getting bored, overworked, too busy, or uninterested in your job, you may forget the milestones you’ve achieved. Can you still remember how excited you were when the company you’re currently working for said, “You’re hired!”? Sometimes, you just need to reminisce the past, the things you went through, and the successes you had. You’ll soon realize that what you’re currently going through is not as bad as it is, and that’s when optimism sparks again. You can also think about the following:

• How you and your husband first met and the reason you fell in love with each other
• How you felt when you received your diploma for your bachelor’s degree or when you passed the licensure exam
• How beautiful the moment was when you received a recognition from the company for the first time

4. Read and Watch Inspirational and Success Stories

It’s a good thing that we have easy access to the Internet now and we can easily watch and read inspirational and success stories of people around the world from different walks of life. It can be reassuring to know that you’re not the only person who is going through rough times and that if others can stay positive despite their unfortunate situations, so can you.

So, what are the things you’ll learn from reading and watching inspirational and success stories?

• Learn how people on the other side of the world live despite poverty.
• Find hope from a disabled man who is still working by painting or woodworking despite his condition and old age to feed his six children.
• Be inspired by the real-life story of a 10-year-old child who has leukemia, but still fighting hard to survive and always smiling in front of the camera.
• Watch the beauty of the world, even if it’s just in your computer screen, and imagine that you are there breathing the fresh air and feeling the sun’s kiss on your skin.
• Draw inspiration from a 30-year-old mother who had miscarriage twice but is still hopeful to bear another child and is happy with the rest of her children and her husband.
• Learn the five stages of grief or the Kubler-Ross Model to educate yourself on how to deal with a recent loss.

5. Find Happiness Inside You

You can obtain happiness from the material things you have, the people you love, and your life’s achievements. However, real happiness starts and comes from within. How will you find happiness inside you? Ask yourself these questions:

• What makes me happy?
• What is my purpose in life?
• When was the last time I had a grand vacation?
• When was the last time I appreciated nature?
• When was the last time I exercised my faith?
• How did I stand up from my past relationships?

Conclusion

Every person has a unique way of handling negativism, and possible solutions can work on others but not for some. It’s all about assessing yourself and knowing when you need professional help. Don’t hesitate and don’t be afraid. Think positive, apply the tips you think would be practical and comfortable for you, and you’ll see the brighter side of things. Keep smiling!