5 Steps to Practicing Optimism

We are all struck with hard situations, what we do in each of these situations are all based on how we choose to feel about the situation itself.  I know for me myself I can get all caught up in my head about why everything is going to go wring or is already going wrong.  Some of the things I will talk about I am working on myself already and progressing everyday to be as optimistic about every situation as much as possible.  The good thing for you guys that with me still struggling with some of these steps is that you will not get discouraged about not be optimistic right away.  So anyways lets get right into it.

1) Don't take things personally
Number one is defiantly my biggest challenge.  In the world it becomes so easy for us to take the smallest thing personally.  In reality the other person may just be doing something thats better for them and not knowing they are hurting you.  We have all been there, we had a plan to do something with someone or people, and then they cancel.  You start thinking "what did I do wrong?" when in reality that person may be sick or have something going on in their life, but we usually always feel like the victim.  For me it helps to just sit back relax and take a deep breathe and put myself in that persons shoes and see where they are coming form instead of only thinking my point of view.  Although I really struggle with this, when I take that small action it helps me not just feel how I feel but also see through the other persons eyes and instead of feeling mad or hurt I feel that I know they aren't doing anything board me which can put both parties in an optimistic headspace because we both see the good instead of the bad.

2) Everything happens for a reason
Many bad or terrifying things will happen in our life that we cannot control.  There is one thing we can do though, and that is knowing that the event happened for a reason even if it doesn't seem good right now, it will help shape us to grow.  You may be driving along and in a hurry to get home and you hit every red light and feel angry, but on your drive home you witness an accident that could've been you if one of those lights were to be green.  Maybe your low on money and are trying to do something big but feel that the lack of money is holding you back right now, but it could be a lesson for the rest of your life, or even be used to show later in life that you came from nothing to doing big things, and using that to help motivate others to do the same and help them realize they can to.  Just remember no matter where you are, whatever happens is the universe trying to push you toward what you are meant to be.
3) Mediation
I talk about meditation for a lot of things.  Having the ability to stare at a wall or close your eyes for a period of time and do nothing sounds boring and torturous at first.  We live in a fast paced world where we are all rushing to do everything, but many of us need to slow down and chill for even just a few minutes.  The rushing around is known to not be beneficial to our cardiovascular system, because rushing causes stress, we are known to rush to a job we don't like which will cause us stress, or rush to get somewhere even if we do like it but any bad traffic will do the same, cause us stress. So for me slowing down and taking some time to myself and just doing a mediation and telling myself "I am" statements throughout the mediation can help bring me back to center.
4) Don't care what others think
The biggest trap we can fall into which can bring us into pessimism is doing what everyone else wants us to do.  We live in a world where others opinion of us can shape how we feel about doing the things we truly love.  Your not gonna please everyone and you shouldn't try to.  Now I'm not saying to just not listen to others, because many times people want to help us learn something that can help our life.  If its something you know won't truly help you its best to do what you know truly will despite the opinion of others, and if you do try to please others all the time you won't do it and you'll ultimately be letting yourself down.  To be your true self you must care what you think of yourself, wha others think isn't who you are, only what you think of yourself is what matters.  Are you thinking of yourself as powerful or weak? A winner or loser?  These are thoughts only we can control, no one else.
5) Do what makes you happy
I am currently working a job I don't really see as useful where I am doing the same thing everyday and becomes boring and repetitive.  But for me writing, doing videos, and working out is much different, I seem to enjoy the process because I know I am doing good for people and influencing people while working on myself as well.  Even if I'm not making money doing it I still love the process and have fun with it, and truly brings me joy to share a message I find important.