Charles Swindoll nailed it: “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” While you can’t control what happens, you can choose to respond positively.

The Science Behind Optimism

Research shows that optimistic thinking patterns have physical and psychological benefits, e.g.:

- reduced stress and anxiety (through self-belief, expecting good outcomes, and learning from setbacks)

- boosted resilience (if you’re motivated to reach your goals, come what may)

- enhanced neuroplasticity (each positive thought reinforces new neural pathways in your brain until they become automatic processes)

Optimism and Overall Wellbeing

Positivity will inspire a healthier lifestyle, so you’ll want to:

- eat well

- exercise regularly

- sleep sufficiently

- manage stress better, and

- avoid smoking

Optimism can help:

- strengthen your immune system

- decrease the risk of depression

- lead to a longer life

The Optimist’s Toolkit

Sometimes it’s hard to be positive if you aren’t feeling up to it. In her book Switch On Your Brain, Dr Caroline Leaf shares that if you realised how powerful your thoughts were, you’d never think a negative thought again. Even if your outlook is naturally more pessimistic, you can learn to be optimistic, by training your brain.

Here are five practical strategies for cultivating optimism in your everyday life:

1. Carry Out a “Kindness Campaign”

Make it your mission to uplift those around you and outdo yourself by offering compliments and random acts of kindness. Treat a colleague to lunch, give a generous tip or let someone go ahead of you in the supermarket queue. You’ll feel more cheerful from adding a little sunshine into someone else’s day.

2. Take an “Imagination Vacation”

Give your mind some R&R by taking an “imagination vacation”. Close your eyes and imagine the place where you feel the most joyful and peaceful. Take in all five senses of these surroundings to help rejuvenate you and face your present struggles in a positive light.

3. Find your Muse in Music

Create a positive playlist of some of your favourite tunes and listen to it throughout your day – in the car, during lunch and at the gym. Let the power of upbeat music uplift and move you.    

4. Jam Full a Gratitude Jar

Start and end your day with gratitude. Each morning and evening, write down one thing you’re grateful for on a slip of paper and pop it in a jar. You’ll start feeling more optimistic as you see the jar filling up, and it’ll remind you that there’s always something to be thankful for.

5. Let Yourself Laugh

It’s okay to laugh or smile! You can find humour in everyday situations—even when facing difficulties—if you allow yourself to. Watch a few funny YouTube clips, surround yourself with hilarious people, or force a few chuckles at first. Laughter is strong medicine – it’s a mood and immune system booster and releases the “feel-good hormones”. Simply put, laughing at life helps you feel better!

Ultimately, optimism is rooted in hope. The more you pursue positivity, the more it grows. Practising gratitude and knowing that you have something to look forward to can make all the difference in your approach to life. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed towards the sun, one’s feet moving forward”.