One of the simplest truths of all time is simply this, life is not going to always be easy. These last couple of years it feels like everyone has been hit with things that have brought them down in one way or the other. A study done in 2021 by Statista found that 86% of Americans agree that the world has felt scarier in the last two years. And it’s natural to feel that way especially because-as we discussed in last weeks blog-90% of all news media we see is negative.

Yet, regardless of all of this, the majority of Americans are still found to be optimists about the future. It’s a cornerstone of the American spirit to believe that there is always something greater on the horizon if you put your head down and keep pushing. It’s essentially what our country was founded upon.

Optimist (noun): A person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something.

Optimism is often times portrayed as rose colored glasses or even ignorance, but what if I told you that optimism takes immense strength and yields a better life? What if the positive thinkers are on to something? What if the way you think has a powerful impact on the life you live?

What would happen if you decided to choose to see the good in things? 

Here are 3 Benefits to Being a Positive Thinker that I hope will convince you to give it a try.

Resilience

Since the optimist believes that things will inevitably get better they are better equipped to manage tougher situations and seasons. Optimists know there is a light at the end of the tunnel even if they can’t see it yet, this keeps them moving during challenges rather than paralyzing themselves with hopelessness. It’s a lot easier to breathe through pain when you know there is an end to it-the same thing goes for difficult situations. When we believe that the best is yet to come the current circumstances that cause us pain are infiltrated with a hope that allows us to persevere.

Powerful Influence

Anyone can make an impact on another person, the question is what kind of an impact you’ll make. The optimist leaves a powerful trail of positivity behind them as they go. An optimistic leader instills passion in their teams and inspires new ideas and work flows. Positive thinking is contagious, so when an optimist walks into the room suddenly conversations and focus shifts to the potential solution and away from the problem. The optimistic leader doesn’t just help the team to grow, they inspire them to thrive.

Focus

Often times when problems arise we want to lean in and pick it all apart, the problem with this is that it pulls focus away from potential and hones it in on mistakes. An optimist knows that there is a potential to grow as a result of mistakes. They are able to see the big picture rather than just pieces because positive thinking opens their minds instead of closing them. When you know there is a breakthrough on the horizon it’s easier to focus on the task of continuing to move forward.

At the end of the day it isn’t always easy to see the good, but it is always worth it. Pain and mistakes are inevitable, that’s life, but if there’s one thing I want you to take away from this blog it’s that positivity does make an impact. It’s up to you, how will you think? How will you see the world? Will you give up or pick it up and keep moving?

Whatever it is…

Lead Well,