A pessimist tends to expect things to turn out poorly or to ponder over what did not go well. However we can all become  optimists by adjusting the way we see things. They do not see everything  rosy, but just choose to focus on what is good about a situation and what they can do to make things better. Optimists, through their vision of toxic positivity, develop a strategy to make life better by finding a  solution that can create a new way. It goes hand in hand with action.

 

Mark them out

Optimists have certain traits in common :

Set goals  : Optimists keep working on their goals, never losing sight of where they are going — even when things go awry.
Focus on doing the best : Simply remind themselves of  doing the best whenever they feel a lowering of energy  or pessimistic.
Feel grateful : Review all  good things that have happened in life and being grateful for it each day. 
Smile more to be stress free :Smiling can help reduce stress and boost one’s mood by causing the brain to produce serotonin. Forcing oneself to smile even when feeling pessimistic helps you feel more positive and look on the brighter side of things.

Live in the moment :Though worrying about the future might be inevitable, that is what optimists prefer. “In taking a moment to appreciate everything around , you instantly become more optimistic,” says celebrity yogi Lauren Imparato.
Notice little things :Optimists believe that even the worst days have something good about them. Optimistic people notice these things and allow it to brighten their other-wise terrible day. And you should, too.
Choose Words Wisely :This means choosing positive language, like calling a rainy day “refreshing” instead of “dreary.”

Do not believe In Automatic Thoughts :Whenever  thoughts turn negative, be conscious and indulge in the self-talk that goes on inside our heads. With practice, one can thus replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
Tell Others About Optimism and Positivity : Be kind and cheerful around people you might or might not know. Your optimism might help that person think in a new perspective. You do not know what he might be going through.
Decide to have  a great day :Optimistic people always tell themselves in the morning that it is going to be a great day. It may not always end up being true, but it’s an excellent mindset to have.
Do not put oneself in a box :”Optimistic people develop a sense of identity that can’t be affected by outside circumstances”, says Dawn Mitchell. Work on yourself, and truly believe you are awesome no matter what happens.
Identify the purpose of negativity: Being mindful of your pessimistic thoughts will help you pinpoint what’s causing you to feel negative. Ask yourself if negative thoughts are actually fulfilling their purpose. You are likely to discover that pessimism does not make unwanted changes or disappointments any easier for you to cope with.

For our own lives.

To  free ourselves of the influence of the negatives in our lives, it is worth adopting certain  mental traits and strategies.

Be a realistic optimist. People who are confident that they will succeed, and equally confident that success won’t come easily. They put in more effort, plan how they’ll deal with problems before they arise, and persist longer in the face of difficulty.
Take a  perspective. At moments of severe despondence, think of a possible loss suffered by someone else that is greater and more severe. This can comfort us  and may even improve our sense of well being. Recalling pleasantries and events of happiness at such moments is also helpful.
Change the angle of view. Instead of viewing an illness as proof of how hopeless life is, consider it as the body’s way of saying that something needs to change, and then work on changing it. 

Develop Psychological optimism.  Be willing to accept failure while remaining confident that success will follow. In fact doctors suggest that patients with high optimism appear to have stronger immune system since it buffers it against psychological stressors. 

 

We can talk about the good things that happened and share good news with others which will fill us with bliss. Negativity is  something that can ruin our lives. We can put in effort and train our minds to see the glass a little more full than how it initially was. Life is not all gloom and doom and there are always many more positives than negatives. It is just that very often we take the positives for granted and focus on the negatives. However it is not that difficult to reverse the order.

 

About the authors

This article has been contributed by the following students of St Josephs High School, Matigara, Darjeeling: Ahana Mallik, Prashasti Mondal, Sreeparna Dutta Chowdhury and Meghna Biswas.