Do you tend to dwell on the negatives of every situation? Are you a glass half empty kind of person? If you are a pessimist chances are you are not happy in life very often. You probably find a reason to be upset about everything that happens to you and this way of thinking can affect your entire life.
The good news is that it does not have to be this way. While some people are hardwired to find the negative in almost everything, other people are the opposite and find the good. If you tend to dwell on the negative there are some things that you can do in order to change your perspective for the better.
Choose Happiness
This seems rather simple, but for some people it is a difficult process. The first thing you need to do is to remember what happens to you is not always within your control, but how you react to it is. Once you realize this you become more powerful simply because you are now choosing how circumstances affect you. When you learn this you understand that no one can make you unhappy because your happiness does not depend on anyone but you.
This can be a difficult process for many people, especially those who tend to look for the negative in everything that happens to them. The idea of reframing is to push out the negative thoughts and try to see things with a different perspective. For example, if your significant other recently left you the negative reaction would likely be to dwell on what you did wrong and to feel sorry for yourself. To reframe this thought consider the other people you have in your life who love you. It is okay to note the mistakes you may have made in the relationship, but recognize that the other person made mistakes as well.
Define what Optimism Means to You
Optimism means something different to everyone. Overall, optimistic people tend to believe that everything happens for a reason and that in the end everything will work out how it is supposed to. While bad things are going to happen, it is important to learn from them and move on rather than dwell on them as nothing good can ever come from these negative thought processes.
Taking the time to look at situations in a new and positive light can lead to a life that is happier and more fulfilling.