Optimism With Leadership Skills Books

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 3:01 am

Your Toolbox For Optimism

With the tough economy this year, I suspect we’ve all been challenged more than usual to find and practice optimism amidst the challenges of income loss and job loss and the host of issues that come with economic stress. Since optimism has been shown to have important tangible benefits in our lives–better physical and emotional health, stronger and more satisfying relationships, improved career performance, etc.–it is even more important to renew our efforts to nurture our optimism. But how do we practice optimism when it feels like the chips are down?

I’ve created an optimism toolbox–strategies we can put into action when our optimism practice needs a boost. Put any of these simple and cost-free tools to use when you feel overwhelmed, and focus on the positive energy you generate as a result:

* Avoid negative environments–not always possible, but negative energy can spread like a virus. Spend time with positive people and situations as much as you can.

* Reframe your thoughts–when faced with a tough patch, reframe how you think about it to see the positive possibilities, not the stumbling blocks. Look at it as an opportunity to grow and it will become such.

* Pay attention to your language–if you are always playing devil’s advocate or saying, “Yes, but…” to situations, your behaviors and thoughts follow the language you choose. If you choose your language to reflect an optimistic outlook, actions and behaviors will follow suit.

* View adversity as temporary–sure, we all experience challenges and chaos, but if we see them as temporary situations that we can get beyond and come out stronger, then we keep moving forward rather than become mired in moping.

* Focus on strengths–optimists focus on what they do well, not what weaknesses they think they need to correct.

* Altruism–helping others with what they need, not what we think they need.

* Innovation–optimists are open to new ideas, willing to take risks, able to see and seek new possibilities.

* Look for partial solutions–optimists are not perfectionists. When we let go of the impossible perfect scenario, we can keep on the positive track by making progress step by step.

* Visualize success–optimists mentally rehearse going through whatever challenges may face them and coming through them with positive outcomes.

* Non-denial of stress–stressors exist, but optimists anticipate them and work through them. They aren’t Pollyanna-ish living in a happy bubble and they don’t become paralyzed when things get tough. Hope springs eternal, and our best is yet to come.

* Nurture success–at work, at home. Create an environment where you believe people will do well, people will grow in positive ways–people will respond to an optimistic environment.

* Sublimation of energy–have a lot of anxious/angry energy? Divert it to positive pursuits like athletics or creative hobbies or art or cooking.

* Focus outside ourselves–the quickest road to misery? Focus solely on ourselves. quickest way to optimism? Focus outside: on others and how we can help them or how we can learn from them; on projects that inspire us; on strengths that we want to grow.

* Practice spontaneity–this is one I want to work on. I have lots of routines and schedules and I find comfort in them. But when we make it a point to be spontaneous, we give ourselves the opportunity to expect positive outcomes, to visualize success in something new and out of our normal, comfortable routine. We give ourselves the gift of growing optimism. so take the dog for a walk in a new route, take a different road home, tell a loved one you love them when they least expect it. Spontaneity is fertilizer for optimism.

Optimism takes practice. But with these cost-free tools, we can practice seeing the possibilities and the positives in anything that comes our way.

Andrew Gallop: Expert article writer: Writes and compiles articles on
leadership skills. There are more articles, videos, lots of free stuff
and products at,Leadership Skills Books: lessons in optimism