Optimism

Dana Lightman is quoted as writing “Optimism works in conjunction with your life energy, strengthening your roots and keeping you grounded, stimulating the growth of new shoots and the development of new branches that form your life, energizing the creation that is you.”
Sure you have a choice as a human being in looking at life events through the lens of optimism or pessimism.  It seems that surveys verify statistically that optimists are significantly later confronted with symptoms of old age than pessimists.


We are the author of own life story.  We can choose to make it, look at it and live it how we want.  Others, whom we are surrounded by, can similarly choose to be a part of that journey or not.


While confidence and optimism depend mostly on attitude and thinking: people, who focus their attention mainly on the positive things in their life may feel more optimistic than those who merely zoom in on the negative aspects of one’s life.  Any of us can perceive the glass half empty or half full; that is in fact not a question of character or genetic predisposition. Each of us can acquire, be groomed, and trained to embrace optimism.


If you dedicate more room to confident thoughts in your life, practice positive ways of looking at things and also train the real acceptance of life, you will soon be on your way to a new outlook on life.  These steps will help you influence your thinking, feeling and behavior in an optimistic direction. In the evening, or just before falling asleep it is a  good exercise to go through all the positive experiences of the day and make yourself intensively aware of these moments. You can also make a daily list of things, that were positive on the previous day.


My last two: You are the sum of the people you surround yourself with.  Surround yourself with like minded people.  Not people that necessarily agree with everything you do.  However, birds of a feather flock together. Surround yourself with people who share your optimistic values.  And my last one; I love leaving notes for others… thank you notes if you will.  Do the same for yourself.  On a mirror in your restroom, car or bedroom that remind you of a quote, a thought or a passage that helps put you in the good mind-frame for the day.

We can be the change we seek in this world, and in ourselves.  One day.  One journey.  One person.  One grain of sand at a time.

Royal D. Bush serves as Interfaith Chaplain.  He has studied at Andersonville Theological Seminary, and the International Institute of Faith Based Counseling.  He also holds a Bachelor Degree in business administration. He is available for premarital coaching, couples coaching, life coaching, and pastoral care in the Nebraska and Iowa area.

Inclusive Life offers both nondenominational and nonreligious care-serving all, without exception!  Inclusive Life offers Wedding Ministers, Premarital Coaching, Couples Coaching, Funeral Ministers, End of Life Planning, and Pastoral Care. To reach Chaplain Royal or Chaplain Beth please email info@inclusivelife.org OR phone 402-575-7006. Omaha Weddings, Omaha Counseling, Omaha Funerals