Optimist Creed – Read This, Embrace It, Change Your Life
Read The Optimist Creed here and discover how to easily embrace it and change your life as you were BORN to be an optimist.
Let’s chat about the Optimist Creed.
I want you to take a moment to read the OPTIMIST CREED, especially if you have never read it before. It goes as follows:
THE OPTIMIST CREED
Promise yourself:
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
Did you know that it’s actually possible to embrace this OPTIMIST CREED every single day?
Allow me to share with you one of my favorite quotes about optimism. It goes like this:
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty “– Winston Churchill
This quote demonstrates the simplest way to determine if you are an optimist versus a pessimist. So which bucket do you fall into?
Which one do you think calls your name the most?
REMEMBER YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS – OPTION 1:
An optimist, when faced with a problem, tends to find the upside to the situation and starts figuring out ways to solve that problem, or ways to turn it around.
OR OPTION 2:
A pessimist, however, immediately throws up his hands, and yells, “That’s it; it’s all over. I can’t handle this anymore.”
Or he/she will distance themselves from the problem, pretending it doesn’t matter. (Hint: This is denial, and it never works if deep down it really DOES matter to you.)
Now here’s the interesting thing about optimism (and listen up if you put your hand up and identified more with the pessimism description).
According to the world’s foremost expert on optimism, Dr. Martin Seligman, everyone is born optimistic.
What????
Yes let me repeat that for you one more time: he believes everyone is born an optimist.
Yet, 95% of grownups are pessimists, not optimists.
So, what goes wrong along the way my friend?
Why do some people see the glass as half empty while others see it as half full. Or is it possible to be a bit of both?
Maybe yes, right?
When you think about it, most people tend to be an optimist sometimes and a pessimist at other times.
Ironically, a lot of times things turn out according to how we feel about the situation.
Do you remember why that is the case?
Because your thoughts influence your feelings which influence your actions and ultimately your results?
So, if a person feels like something will go well or feels optimistic about it, it usually seems to go well.
The same is true of the reverse.
When someone feels like something will go badly, it tends to do just that.
One way to tell if you’re stuck in the pessimistic mindset is if you find yourself saying in stressful situations – “I can’t”. I can’t do this. I can’t do that. Here’s a long list of all the reasons why I can’t.
The pessimist is helpless, powerless and it shows in his or her attitude and response.
The optimist responds with – “I can”. I can do it. I can find a way. I can keep going.
The optimist is making a conscious choice, not just reacting to the situation at hand.
An optimist prefers to think more positively and they focus on what they really want, not what might happen to them.
EMBRACING THE OPTIMIST CREED
Think about the following statements:
- Optimists achieve their goals because they never give up
- Optimists attract success naturally
- Optimists are happier, healthier and more energetic than pessimists
- Optimists are easier to be around and more inspiring people
- Optimists live longer and suffer from fewer and less severe diseases
- Besides the above, optimists lead higher quality of life.
This may all simply be true because the optimists’ positive thinking reframes challenging situations to be manageable and learning opportunities.
Now remember – optimism is not just sitting back, thinking positive thoughts, and hoping everything will turn out all right.
It’s how you see the world, positively rather than negatively.
You face each situation, each problem, and each occasion with a positive attitude; and you always look forward to the “benefits” you will derive from it.
You realise you have a choice and YOU OWN THIS CHOICE.
“Change your thoughts and change your world,” said Norman Vincent Peale.
What it ultimately comes down to is that your attitude is a conscious choice.
If you choose pessimism, you’re choosing to see the down side of every situation, judge people unfairly, and live unhappily the rest of your life.
And how does that option sound to you?
Pretty crappy right?
On the other hand, if you choose optimism, you’re empowering yourself to see the positive side of each challenge, seeing the good in people, helping them to see the good in life too.
Taking action to further improve your own life, and living happily with friends and family who care about you.
This is an option you have available to you.
You have an attention to choose a more attractive attitude and attract all that is good to yourself.
Of course, choosing to be more optimistic and positive doesn’t mean you won’t encounter difficult times, trauma, loss and many challenges.
If doesn’t mean you won’t experience discomfort.
What it does mean is that you will have more power on your side to help you through those tough times.
You’ll bounce back faster and make better choices, rather than letting life just wash over you.
You’ll learn to be proactive, instead of reactive.
If you’re not naturally optimistic and positive, don’t worry.
You can learn how to use your thoughts to change your attitude and emotions.
It won’t necessarily be easy.
Some days will be very challenging, but you can do it.
Improving your optimism is one of the most important actions you can take to improve your life because it will impact every area of your life.
This doesn’t come automatically I should note.
It takes effort.
It takes deliberate, conscious awareness of your thoughts and feelings.
And then acting on that awareness.
EMBRACING THE OPTIMIST CREED
So from hereon, each time you think a negative thought, stop right there and turn it around to find the positive aspect of the situation.
Do this each time and build on it.
Optimism is a HABIT and it is worth practicing a habit that allows you to be more positive and upbeat about your life.
EMBRACING OPTIMIST CREED
Here’s how to start:
- Read THE OPTIMIST CREED every single day
- Practice your ‘positive thinking’ and your ‘positive feeling’.
- Give yourself permission to think new thoughts and feel new feelings.
- You can be as optimistic as you want to – there is no limit here.
- Repeat after me: I’m choosing to be optimistic. I expect the best out of life. I think and lean into optimism at all times.
Practice these tips then go forth and embrace optimism.
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.