Optimistic: [op-tuh-mis-tik] adj: disposed to take a favorable view of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome
When you graduate from college and start out on your own, maturity starts to come at a much greater pace. You learn that it's on you to get up, do the things you need or want to, and to reflect on the day to determine if you're satisfied with yourself. Through doing this you learn more about not only what you're good at or the things you like, but more of who you are and who you're going to be in life. The process is intriguing, yet frustrating at times. It can be slow and hard to be sure if what you're learning is real or just noise brought on by the outside world. While the process is never complete, it's important to recognize when you've learned a key trait about yourself. For me recently, I've discovered that at my core, I am an optimist.
Ok, great, so I'm an optimist. So what? What does that mean? What does that look like? How did I discover this? Why does anyone care? Well, for me it means many things, all leading to my self-discovery of this trait. First, it's an attitude and a way of life. It impacts how I interact with the world and with others. It's also what drives my unending desire to work towards what I believe to be right. Whatever is happening, my mind always works its way back towards the expectation of positive outcome.
Second, it means that while I have this trait, I've learned that this is not true for everyone. This leads to the eventual downside of being optimistic which is burnout and disillusionment. This means that although the optimism may still exist, there's no energy or will power left to act on it. This creates a tension as you fight against yourself. A challenge of optimism is that you look to others to help in your cause or to work as a team towards the favorable outcome. Without cooperation from others, if they're more neutral or lean towards a pessimistic outlook, it can feel like you're on a treadmill. While you're looking forward and running towards that optimistic goal, you're not actually getting anywhere.
This type of challenge often leads to one of two outcomes: collapse and the end of the road or refinement and doubling down. Being an optimist, you can guess which outcome I tend to lean towards. Challenges build determination, and this determined and experienced optimism comes back stronger and better prepared to face the world. You learn pitfalls to avoid, opposition to push back against, and gain a more clear focus of your goals. It can take going further back and dragging others along with the strength of your optimism to show them the way and get them on board. The key is being able to bounce back, knowing that while optimism may point you towards the favorable outcome, reaching the goal may take longer than planned.
Speaking of timing, optimistic people tend to be habitually late. For anything and everything. Is it to send a purposeful message that our time is more important? Or is it because our memory is so bad that we don't remember when we're supposed to be somewhere or doing something? The majority of the time the answer is no, and while a push in the right direction can be helpful, optimists know we're late. Trust me. The internal battle that's waged when it happens goes far beyond anything that can be said about it. So then, does this mean that we can show up whenever? Also no. But being punctual is a relative concept and isn't the same for all mankind. And, there's a term for a character trait such as this, and that is tidsoptimist. What this means is that my optimism even affects my perception of time and how much of it I believe that I have on a constant basis. Despite the numerous reminders and self-inflicted tricks, there are going to be times that I flat out miss the mark in regards to being on time. I share this not to lay out as a continuous excuse, but more as an explanation that, as with most mental battles, there's more going on than you might think.
In saying that I'm an optimist and that it's a part of who I am, there's an important point being made. That is, optimism is not going to make itself apparently known every day, especially to those on the outside. But, you know it's there, even for the optimist who is unable to summon that part of themselves. There are times it takes support to keep optimism alive and a kick to get it going. For me, this is most often accomplished through music. One of the things I'm obsessed with in my life is trance music, specifically uplifting trance music. Can you see why? Go back and re-read the last part of that trance sentence. It's right in the name! The uplifting nature of the music is a lifeblood that keeps me going. I even host my own monthly podcast, DJing that style of music, so that I can interact with it beyond just passively listening. Support can also come from a friend, especially one that isn't bound by the hardships of human life. Until recently, whenever I needed an optimism boost back home, all I had to do was look to my forever happy puppy-dog Sandi and she'd get me back on track with one floppy-tongued 'hello'. Although she's gone now, the memories of the decade we spent together can still get me back on track. Being a trait, optimism is always there, even though it sometimes becomes hidden and needs to be brought back into the light.
Optimism is an incredible driving force that can get you through the day, week, month, year, and even a lifetime. Optimism is a catalyst that leads to change in our world, knowing that we can do more, we can make things better, and it's us to lead who can lead the charge. Optimism allows you to bounce back, even after you're denied and rejected by others time and time again.. Optimism can be contagious, as others see the hope that's created and are drawn towards it. For me, optimism is the guiding light that dares me to make a difference. It pushes me to pursue my dreams to create large-scale change on an individual level, even when I don't yet know the path. If you're not a natural optimist yourself, I hope that you have friends that are. As with all things, optimism needs balance. I've discovered this key part of myself by facing countless challenges head on and observing what my leading attitude was. Knowing this, I look to lead with optimism in my daily life, facing the dilemma of pushing on when there are headwinds or falling back and allowing less favorable expectations to take hold. But, when my optimism is paired with my tenacity, my untiring energy, and my hatred of losing, I know what my outcome expectation will be.
When you graduate from college and start out on your own, maturity starts to come at a much greater pace. You learn that it's on you to get up, do the things you need or want to, and to reflect on the day to determine if you're satisfied with yourself. Through doing this you learn more about not only what you're good at or the things you like, but more of who you are and who you're going to be in life. The process is intriguing, yet frustrating at times. It can be slow and hard to be sure if what you're learning is real or just noise brought on by the outside world. While the process is never complete, it's important to recognize when you've learned a key trait about yourself. For me recently, I've discovered that at my core, I am an optimist.
Ok, great, so I'm an optimist. So what? What does that mean? What does that look like? How did I discover this? Why does anyone care? Well, for me it means many things, all leading to my self-discovery of this trait. First, it's an attitude and a way of life. It impacts how I interact with the world and with others. It's also what drives my unending desire to work towards what I believe to be right. Whatever is happening, my mind always works its way back towards the expectation of positive outcome.
Second, it means that while I have this trait, I've learned that this is not true for everyone. This leads to the eventual downside of being optimistic which is burnout and disillusionment. This means that although the optimism may still exist, there's no energy or will power left to act on it. This creates a tension as you fight against yourself. A challenge of optimism is that you look to others to help in your cause or to work as a team towards the favorable outcome. Without cooperation from others, if they're more neutral or lean towards a pessimistic outlook, it can feel like you're on a treadmill. While you're looking forward and running towards that optimistic goal, you're not actually getting anywhere.
This type of challenge often leads to one of two outcomes: collapse and the end of the road or refinement and doubling down. Being an optimist, you can guess which outcome I tend to lean towards. Challenges build determination, and this determined and experienced optimism comes back stronger and better prepared to face the world. You learn pitfalls to avoid, opposition to push back against, and gain a more clear focus of your goals. It can take going further back and dragging others along with the strength of your optimism to show them the way and get them on board. The key is being able to bounce back, knowing that while optimism may point you towards the favorable outcome, reaching the goal may take longer than planned.
Speaking of timing, optimistic people tend to be habitually late. For anything and everything. Is it to send a purposeful message that our time is more important? Or is it because our memory is so bad that we don't remember when we're supposed to be somewhere or doing something? The majority of the time the answer is no, and while a push in the right direction can be helpful, optimists know we're late. Trust me. The internal battle that's waged when it happens goes far beyond anything that can be said about it. So then, does this mean that we can show up whenever? Also no. But being punctual is a relative concept and isn't the same for all mankind. And, there's a term for a character trait such as this, and that is tidsoptimist. What this means is that my optimism even affects my perception of time and how much of it I believe that I have on a constant basis. Despite the numerous reminders and self-inflicted tricks, there are going to be times that I flat out miss the mark in regards to being on time. I share this not to lay out as a continuous excuse, but more as an explanation that, as with most mental battles, there's more going on than you might think.
Optimism is an incredible driving force that can get you through the day, week, month, year, and even a lifetime. Optimism is a catalyst that leads to change in our world, knowing that we can do more, we can make things better, and it's us to lead who can lead the charge. Optimism allows you to bounce back, even after you're denied and rejected by others time and time again.. Optimism can be contagious, as others see the hope that's created and are drawn towards it. For me, optimism is the guiding light that dares me to make a difference. It pushes me to pursue my dreams to create large-scale change on an individual level, even when I don't yet know the path. If you're not a natural optimist yourself, I hope that you have friends that are. As with all things, optimism needs balance. I've discovered this key part of myself by facing countless challenges head on and observing what my leading attitude was. Knowing this, I look to lead with optimism in my daily life, facing the dilemma of pushing on when there are headwinds or falling back and allowing less favorable expectations to take hold. But, when my optimism is paired with my tenacity, my untiring energy, and my hatred of losing, I know what my outcome expectation will be.
