Have you ever wondered why some people are able to weather financial
upheaval without breaking a sweat and have confidence to spare when it
comes to taking risks such as starting their own business or taking a
year off to travel without an enormous safety net? The answer is that
they’ve mastered the art of optimistic thinking. The good news is that
while some people are simply born more inclined towards optimism anyone
can learn to take a more positive, proactive approach towards their
money and financial life.
Optimists look for favorable outcomes
This doesn’t mean that optimists always jump in to things willy-nilly
and hope for the best, rather that they do not let potential negative
outcomes overshadow the potential positive outcomes. By expecting the
best to happen and having faith that they can handle any negatives,
optimists are in a position to take advantage of opportunities that come
their way.
Of course, it would be foolish to ignore all risks but it’s also
foolish to refuse to take actions that could increase your happiness and
well being because you are only focused on the bad things that could
happen and ignore the good.
Optimists believe that their actions can make a difference
Optimists do not see their own efforts as being futile or
meaningless. They understand that they do have the power to make things
happen and take steps to make their dreams a reality.
In contrast, pessimists have a difficult time believing that what they
do will make any difference and find it difficult to make any changes or
take any actions towards a goal. They find excuses why something that
has worked for others will not work for them and believe that anything
that they do is doomed to fail. This makes it difficult for them to have
a healthy relationship with money or get out of situations that make
them unhappy, such as a dead end job that makes them miserable.
Optimists do not internalize failure
When things don’t work out for an optimist, they don’t beat
themselves up over it or conclude it’s because they are not good enough.
They are able to accept failure as a part of life and try again with a
positive attitude. They don’t see themselves as doomed to fail and are
often better able to learn from their mistakes as they don’t see it as
coming from something fixed, such as stupidity or incompetence but
rather from something that they can change such as needing more
education or practice.
When pessimists do take chances and fail, they have a hard time not
blaming themselves and concluding that this is the way that it has to
be. One defeat can leave them reluctant to try again for months and
years and can leave them with a profound sense of being unworthy or
completely at the mercy of others.
How you can become more optimistic
It’s important to realize that optimism is not a result of being too
foolish to understand risks or born out of arrogance or a sign of being
simple-minded. Optimists are just as intelligent and perceptive as
pessimists; the difference is where they place their focus.
By making a conscious effort towards more optimistic thinking, you’ll be
better able to take opportunities that have the potential to make you
happy and to cope with any financial setbacks that come your way,
including those that you have no control over such as a recession or
natural disaster.
Here are some tips to help you think more optimistically:
- Recognize that doing nothing is often as risky as taking action.
- Realize that a positive outcome is just as realistic as a negative one.
- Understand that your failures are not because you are flawed as a person.
- Look for ways that you can take action to make your situation better.
- Embrace the fact that life is an adventure.
- Take comfort in knowing that even when you are in a miserable situation that you can take steps to make the future better.
Optimism is not pie in the sky thinking but rather a way of looking
at the world with the knowledge that positive outcomes are a reality,
that individuals can take actions to increase their own happiness and
financial well being and that failing at something does not make you a
failure.
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