Excel Training & Consulting

It’s highly likely that when you switched on the TV, radio or opened a newspaper today you were met with bad news. We are bombarded with bad news.

So how do you remain optimistic in a negative world?

1.    Don’t base your beliefs and opinions about life on the news.

Bad things happen. Bad news sells. Therefore the media reports bad news. Good things happen. Good news doesn’t sell. Therefore the media doesn’t report good news.

Just because good news isn’t broadcast doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. It’s happening all the time.

2.    Don’t mimic the beliefs and opinions of others.

Some people are cynical and negative about life. They are only too willing to relay their bad news stories or to advise you of how bad and dangerous the world is and how it’s only going to get worse. Usually they’re parroting what they’ve seen, heard or read via the media or from their pessimistic friends .

It’s easy to be negative and cynical. It’s easy not to think for yourself. It’s easy to accept information without questioning it – to accept a sensationalistic piece of news without pondering or investigating what the actual statistics are.

3.    Be optimistic because it works.

It’s true. Optimism works! In his book Learned Optimism, Dr Martin Seligman, describes how optimists benefit in numerous departments of life – health, sport and careers to name but a few.

The big trap people fall into regarding optimism is the belief that you have to think happy thoughts consistently without one intervening negative thought.

The litmus test of optimism is not how you react when things are going right. Instead, it’s your reactions to things going wrong. It’s not just about being happy, it’s sometimes about being resilient and determined.

Optimism is a skill that can be mastered. Seeing the world in a brighter light will help you to notice things that support your optimistic attitude. One of the interesting points about perception is that we tend to find what we’re looking for. There is a part of your brain called the Reticular Activating System that will literally seek out what you’re looking for. Often when you purchase a new car you begin to notice that model of car a lot more. This is why people who are pessimistic have absolutely no trouble supporting their beliefs. The same holds true for the optimist.

So be more conscious when you’re deciding how good or bad life is. And while you do that keep in mind the words of Shakespeare, ‘Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so.’