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Enjoy Your Life: Change Your Point of View

"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars."- Frederick

Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts. If you’ve placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for

joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join

again? In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist’s view and live a self

-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist’s route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.

So why nurture an optimist’s point of view? And why now? Well, optimism has been linked to positive

mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity;

to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma. On the other hand, the rates of

depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits

younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged

housewife’s disorder but also a teen-ager’s disorder’ as well.

Here’s how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist:

Optimists expect the best The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad

events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way

they explain their misfortune---it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary

setback, that its causes are confined to this one case. Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the

'problem' at hand. They use 'positive reinterpretation.' In other words, they most likely reinterpret a

negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad

situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.

They won’t say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience

misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.” Positive expectancies of optimists

also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely

turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

People respond positively to optimists, Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their

happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them

Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with. Optimism seems

a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while

those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably. In life, these people often win

elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice. When the going gets tough, optimists get

tougher. Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than

do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by

denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying

when difficulties arise. They persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their

patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream. Optimists are healthier and live

longer Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a

measurable increase in the body's ability to fight disease. Optimists health is unusually good. They age

well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive

those prone to negative thoughts. So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a

more fulfilled life. Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like

everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Carry yourself out of the

mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove

their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side?