OPTIMISTIC THINKING FOR PESSIMISTS

Are you a pessimist? Do you tend to look on the darker side of things? Well, there is hope for you! The thinking pattern of optimism/ pessimism as a meta-program is simply a template for thinking that you learned. And if you learned it, you can unlearn it ... if you want to. Learning it in childhood from multiple negative experiences makes sense— to a 6 year-old or 13 year-old. And that pessimism may have enabled you to survive your childhood. But you are no longer a child! It’s now time to set an adult goal— namely, Becoming more optimistic.

Suppose that you set that as your goal, becoming more optimistic, the question now is— How do you go about working on that goal?

First, identify your pessimistic triggers. When and where do you get triggered to think pessimistically? Take notice of your ‘buttons.’ What events push your buttons so that you think, “What’s the use?” “Why try, nothing every works out.” “See I’m no good at this.” Is it when you try one time and don’t succeed? Or five times? Is it when you compare yourself to someone who is more skilled than you?