Staying Optimistic During Difficult Times

Are you struggling to stay optimistic during these difficult times? It’s so easy to fall into a funk and camp out there. But I’m telling you, that’s no place to settle. It’s unhealthy. Settling in any negative space has us spiral downward, taking a nosedive to an abyss where we’re engulfed in even more pain. This is where we don’t belong, a place that doesn’t serve a purpose.

There’s a beginning and an ending to every story. And so it is with the cycle of life, it begins and it ends. What happens in-between? We live… but do we really live? It’s not only important to eat right, exercise, make wise decisions, but it’s also vital that we remain optimistic. The beauty is we get to choose. Every decision we make can either lead to the right path or the wrong one. We have to be mindful every day of what we allow to unfold in our lives, and question why there are things we simply accept. What makes us happy and what doesn’t? And are we living our best life? If not, why not?

OPTIMISTICALLY FOCUS ON HAPPINESS

Every year, like clockwork in March, just prior to spring, I create a rather extensive checklist. This is to verify whether I’m on point with my resolutions. However, this March differed from the rest. I kept it simple, a one-liner to be exact… to focus on happiness.

How can one garner happiness when you factor everything that’s going on in the world? How can we focus on maintaining high spirits amid global unrest?

There is something you must consider: life goes on with or without you. I know, sad but true. The key is keeping your life as normal as possible, even when the world is far from normal. And that means moving your life along in forward motion. Not looking back, but looking forward will help you stay ahead of the game.

STAYING OPTIMISTIC IS NO EASY FEAT, BUT DOABLE

We only have this one life, and I would rather focus on happiness and on what it takes to get there and stay there. And it depends on how we relate to how we think, knowing that we can create a positive narrative that may change how we decide to spend the time we have.

With everything that’s happening, we can still experience a special place where we can usher in pure bliss. A point in time, we can relish and treasure.

Happiness depends on staying optimistic, regardless of what goes on, whether in our personal lives or in the world. We have to work on what brings us joy. We build our lives while working on who we are and the way we view life. Hopefully, realizing we’re not here to slink away and fall into oblivion. On the contrary, we’re meant to live… not to just live, but to thrive, living fully, happily, peacefully.

So with that said, what makes you happy, what brings you joy, and what gives you peace?

The key is to surround yourself with the right things. Everything impacts your life, from the way you think, to who you spend time with, to what you listen to, to the dreams you carry. From music to lighting, from color to fragrance, you create the space you’re in, a cheerful place or a not so peaceful space. It’s taking joy in lively phone chats with our friends and family, or when it’s just us, enjoying our own company, curled up in a comfy chair with a good book. 

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

So, how can you get to a happier state when you’re bombarded with unbearable world events? Keeping yourself busy doing whatever you can, while you can, knowing there are things outside of your control. And the way you think results in the way you feel. You have a choice, to live in fear, anxious and worried or to choose to live it out, all those unsettling moments. But to be mindful of your wellbeing, your state of mind, and to choose to live soundly. A sound mind, living in a sound body, leading a sound life.

With so much going on in the world, it’s easy to fall into a state of despair. But this isn’t how we are to live. Each day is a gift, and we are to make the best of the time we have.

Continue doing all those things you love, and if you’re unsure, here’s a list to help you along the way…

• Live a little
• End those things no longer working or beneficial
• Adopt the less is more concept
• Keep it simple
• Get away, take a trip
• Surround yourself with the things you love
• Take stock of where you are in life and plan where it is you dream of going
• Create happy moments
• Get fresh air
• Seek solutions rather than focusing on all the problems
• Practice acceptance, embracing who you are
• Listen to uplifting music, podcasts, anything that lifts your mood
• Volunteer
• Find a positive support group
• Stay connected
• Get involved
• Walk in the spirit of love
• Lighten up
• Do the things you love, love the things you do
• Spruce up your space 
• Pamper yourself
• Enjoy the simple pleasures in life
• Exercise mindfulness
• Practice gratitude
• Dance
• Learn something new
• Stay optimistic
• Think positive
• Focus on happiness
• Rest
• Relax
• Dream
• Discover
• Explore
• Find your peace
  

LIVE IT, LOVE IT, NUTURE IT… AFTER ALL, THIS IS YOUR LIFE & IT PAYS TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

We have to let stuff go (the stuff we have no control over). We have to let it go (the thing that bothers us the most). And from time to time, we have to just let go (giving ourselves permission to just unwind, relax, and enjoy our time with the people we love).

How we think, what we choose, what we do, can alter how we view things, and staying optimistic can change where we end up. So why get caught up in the bad news? Instead, focus on things you can do. Focus on ways you can help make someone else’s life easier. Why not begin a new chapter, delve into a new storyline, start something, learn something, try something different?

Take inventory of your life, of where you are, and decide for yourself what needs to be in the picture and what doesn’t. Add the things you love and subtract the things you don’t.

Take charge of your life, and remember you are also responsible and accountable for what you create. You can assess where you are and then ask yourself, what can I change about my life? And what can I do to make it more meaningful?