How to go from pessimist to optimist?

THis is a brilliant question! Hm. I wish I had some suggestions, but I think I was born with a disposition than tends to look to the good in things. Perhaps the rest of the community might be able to help.

(There's a short article on the topic here, too.)

Wow Suzy! What a wonderful honest question…you'll be happy to know…you just took your first step:) You have defined it and admitted it…you can do the rest. What is optimism? Well, if you have a hard time figuring that one out let the you, you're leaving behind, help you get to where the more optimistic you will be going…think of whatever you're normal response is (pessimistic one) then…think of the exact opposite…then decide to focus on that thought instead. consciously decide to do it and keep doing it and sometimes it will be right on! and other times it won't but…each time…smile to yourself - let it be like a private game of glass half empty, half full for you:) - know that you can't loose because you are the only one playing:)

Email me any time…I hope you reach the light you're obviously seeking, as I am sure it is also seeking you:) I can't help but wonder what glorious things are waiting for you to optimistically show up…:)

we are one
aki

Suzy…I'm putting it to the test for you…I have reached out other members so they can come and show you what the results of optimism are…I say this because I am choosing to believe they will:)…let's be opitmistic and watch it work!

we are one
aki

Hi Suzy -  I agree with aki and Siona on your wonderful honest question and since we have the option of answering questions that are new every single day on Gaia
When I went to your photos   I felt the beauty of spirit and so much life unfolding. 
 I understand the depths of despair you describe.  Some days watching just the news where chaos and fear are injected to the public with the intention of keeping us in fear and even apathy.  Then they show commercials… “ask your doctor” and spew out ads of icky symptoms and more fear of doom and gloom.  That's their job.  They actually get paid for putting chaos out.

Don't watch  tv for a week.  Look around the environment and find things that are not a threat.  See new beauty for what it is from your view.  I looked at your photos and that would be a fun thing to do at say… a starbucks with your homies.  Do this to a smile  - not a laugh yet.  But it will help you to know yourself and therefore know life and start a new beginning on the path to where dreams will begin to be a part of the new reality for you.

aki is amazing at this stuff and I am here to back her up.  Siona is our fearless leader and will be a great guide for you… OK?  Let's hang out here soon.

we are with you,Kathy

Suzy, such a bleak outlook may be due to depression, check out your score and if you seem depressed see a Doctor for treatment, here is a link to check

http://www.depression-help-resource.com/depression-test.htm

if you are not depressed then remember attitude is a choice, and watch your thoughts, when you think negatively or pessimistically check yourself and try to rephrase it more positively and optimistically in your mind, with practise you will begin to think more positively. Look in the mirror regularly and consciously make a positive statement about yourself too. Look at your interests and skills, what do you love, set yourself a task to achieve that is relatively easy then pat yourself on the back, gradually increase to harder goals, it may help your self esteem if it is low, compete with yourself to improve but don't compare yourself to others, we are all unique anyway be true to yourself and go for it! 
   Looking at your last blog you say you are stressed too, meditation is calming, or relaxation exercises perhaps?

Hi Suzy! [Hi all the dear friends on this blog! ]

SOmetimes I look at things in the opposite way just to see the flip side of what we are seeing. This is what I see:
It's interesting; but perhaps you are already showing your optimism by reaching out at times when you are upset or finding things to be hard. It is like you know that there will be something/someone out there, who will give you an answer, or just  reach back. From what I”m seeing here, that is not far from the truth!

What I see therefore, is a young girl, looking upward as in your lovely profile picture, who is not afraid to experience the difficulties in her life, and is for this period of time, going deeper into what we call the shadows. It is only with  the strength of an inner light that we can do that. I bow to the light within  you, dear one; and welcome you to Gaia….and off I go to see your photos now. Thanks for letting us know, ~KES!

Suzy

Yes, as KES said, smile, that is the best way to begin :)  And the next thing I would suggest is to get rid of the whole idea of going from pessimism to optimism, that way you will no longer be perceiving any distance between them as separate states.

So you no longer need to worry about getting from point A to point B, which can take as long as you think it will :)  This is often why we have such difficulty changing our patterns of experience, because of how we set an idea up in our minds based on a certain ideal of what an experience will be like, which can make it difficult if we don't experience our ideal concept of what we think the experience should feel like or look like :) 

As others here have said.. You already are changing right now, do you realize that?  You have set forth the intent to change, and thats what its really all about :)  Everything else just takes a little openness and acceptance of your own infinite power and beauty to see how you already are changing.  Look at all these people here in Gaia who want to help you!  Your creating that!  So as you look at this page, and accept what you are creating, you are already there :)  And now you can take all that pessimism and just release it to the wind because you don't really need it anymore.  Everytime you do this, you will feel your own power growing, and realize that it is really just a choice of what you want to pay attention to and how you want to perceive.  In the moment anything is possible.

Alex

Suzy,

Try on being an “optimistic pessimist”. 

Okay, so life has made you believe that things don't turn out and so, you are a pessimist, so you don't feel emotionally disappointed. 

The optimistic part is easy - just be hopeful you're wrong about your expectations.  Hope that somehow the next thing you feel pessimistic about will somehow turn out better than you thought. 

In fact, challenge it.  The next time you have a pessimistic thought, tell the higher power, whatever higher power - even your inner self or intellect - “how about proving me wrong about this for a change?  Bet you can't get this one to turn out good.  Show me ! ! ! ” (they like to say that in Missouri where I live).

Wishing you success in this little shift.  The next step will be to drop the pessimist part.  First, you need a reason to be optimistic.  Are you smart?  Talented?  Caring?  Helpful?  Ah, see there has to be something you know you are good at, therefore, you can be optimistic about it.  It's easy, once you give it a try.

Wishing you beginner's luck on your very first attempt-
Deb