When you are faced with a challenge, it can often seem easier to have a negative viewpoint and think that there is no way anything can ever get better. But this is the wrong approach entirely, as optimism when facing a challenge is actually what will help you survive and conquer it.
If you are faced with something especially difficult, embracing optimism may seem absolutely impossible, but there are a number of things you can do to help yourself maintain a positive view.
Look For A Silver Lining
In order to keep up your optimism, you need to find something good about your situation. Of course, this may be a challenge, but there is something good about every single situation, you just need to find it. One of the best ways to do this is when you find yourself having a negative thought, use a positive thought to block those negative thoughts.
For example, if you’ve recently lost your job, and you have negative thoughts thinking you may never get another, block these thoughts with the idea that now you can pursue the dream job you’ve always wanted to.
Spend Time With Other Optimists
It can be very difficult to remain optimistic if you are surrounded with people who are constantly projecting their negativity onto you.
This is why, if you find yourself around a bunch of pessimists, it’s time to change the people you spend time with. This is because energy and emotions are especially contagious thus only surround yourself with the people whose energy you want to have effect your life.
Think About Others
When you are faced with an especially difficult challenge, it’s likely that the negative thoughts of what you are facing can become all consuming. And if you are constantly focusing on your own thoughts, it can be difficult to work the positive thoughts in there. Instead, try to do something nice for someone else.
Not only will this help you feel better, but it will distract you from your thoughts for a while and help you break up the cycle of negative thinking.
Don’t Leave Projects Incomplete
When you are facing a challenge in your life, it’s likely that it will take up a lot of your energy and time. This may lead to you leaving other projects unfinished. And when you leave lots of project unfinished, this will cause you to become more and more behind and probably induce more negative emotions in your life.
So, don’t let unfinished projects weight over your head, rather finish everything on your to-do list that you can, and cross things off as you go. Chances are you’ll feel better.
Remember To Be Grateful
When a difficult situation arises in life, it can be hard to remember that the situation is not the only thing in your life. Because it’s not. You need to remember all the great things you have accomplished and done in your life.
This will not only help keep your mind off the challenge you are facing, but it will also help you to be grateful, and probably make the issue seem less horrible.
Overall, remaining optimistic in the face of a challenge can be very difficult. But if you are going to survive the challenge you are facing, it is absolutely necessary. Just remember to always look for a silver lining, be grateful, and don’t leave projects incomplete.
Then spend some time around optimistic people, and consider doing something nice for someone else, and you may find that being optimistic in the face of a challenger is a little easier than you thought.