How to Be an Optimist

By Megan Martin

The research is in: Optimists are healthier, more likeable and more successful than their pessimistic counterparts. And if you consider yourself a pessimist, no worries! Even the biggest “Debbie Downer” can train herself to become an optimist.

A common misconception about optimism is that you’re born with it. Psychologists have long believed that personality traits are for the most part set in stone, but recent personality research has shown that transformation is possible.

“Many of [the familiar qualities we admire] amount to habitual ways of responding to the world—habits that can be learned,” says Kathleen McGowan in her Psychology Today online article, “Second Nature.”

Heed these tips from experts to fully take advantage of all the benefits of optimism:

1. Take Optimistic Action

Optimism doesn’t mean being perpetually cheerful or constantly looking on the bright side of life’s darker moments. However, it does mean taking action to make the best of any given situation.

“Anticipating a better future, an optimist takes the steps necessary to create it,” says McGowan.

To illustrate the point, McGowan tells the story of David Fajgenbaum, an 18-year old about to embark on his undergraduate career at Georgetown University, when he learned that his mother had brain cancer. He felt alone and helpless. But instead of withdrawing in his despair, he reached out to others by starting a support group at Georgetown called Students of Ailing Mothers and Fathers. The response was tremendous. Students in the group rallied to raise money for medical research and reached out to high school students experiencing similar tragedies. Today the group has 20 chapters across the country.

“He took action despite his own pain,” says McGowan. “[This is] a mainstay of the optimistic mind-set…if Fajgenbaum were more pessimistic, he’d probably have given up when he found out that Georgetown didn’t have the support networks he sought…instead, he resolved to build them himself.”

2. Be Mindful of Your Words

Being engaged in your goals, whatever they may be, is one way to start taking optimistic action. There are smaller ways to embrace optimistic behavior as well. Consider not only what you do, but what you say.

Beware of complaining. Even if it’s about something as simple as a newspaper headline or the weather, complaining can kill optimism on the spot. Point out the strengths of your co-workers, friends and family members rather than dwelling on their weaknesses.

“Who would you rather have by your side: the person who buys into the gloom or the one with the unshakable belief in the future? Be the person people want to join,” says Carmen Gallo in her Businessweek online article, “Optimism in a Recession.”

3. Accept that Failure is Integral to Progress

The most effective people know that failure is part of the growth process. As an example, Gallo points to Google, a company that embraces the reality of failure. Google encourages its engineers to use as much as 20 percent of their time for brainstorming new ideas—knowing full well that most of these ideas will come to naught. However, the ideas that pan out have made Google the mammoth organization that it is today.

In his Supervison article, “Think Positive and Be a Winner,” TL Stanley quotes research done by Alison Stein Wellner & David Adox. This research suggests that optimists are especially adept at dealing with failure: "Several studies point to their key trait—resilience. Because they don't turn setbacks into catastrophes, optimists are better able to bounce back from emotional and physical stress than others."

Demonstrating and encouraging perseverance during times of adversity will help build a more optimistic work environment. If you experience difficulties while working on a project, try to learn from your mistakes and move on.

“People fail because they give up too soon,” says Fracaro. “The optimistic person never gives up. S/he anticipates problems, setbacks and major failures but does not give up when they occur.”

4. Keep Company with Optimists

Optimists stick together and thrive off of one another. The best way to keep your upbeat attitude intact is to surround yourself with other optimists, both at work and at home. Optimism is contagious—even the firmest naysayers will turn a new leaf if they’re surrounded by enough positivity.

“Optimism will eat away at pessimism,” says Fracaro. “Be persistent in putting forth optimistic ideas and thoughts and they will eventually win out.”

Foster optimism in your life and you’re sure to enjoy a more successful career, better health and a happier home life.

< Back to news