6 Ways to Be More Optimistic

Do you see the glass as half full? Do you always look for the silver lining? Do you assume the sun will come out tomorrow?

Or are you rolling your eyes because you typically see the glass as half empty and since the sun hasn’t been out in over a week, why should it make an appearance tomorrow?

If you lean towards the first examples, you definitely fall into the category of optimist. If the latter, well, that puts you in the pessimist column. And according to recent studies, our outlook on life is actually hardwired.

But there is good news! Even if you aren't an optimistic by nature, you can still begin seeing the positive side of life more often. As a parent there are many benefits for you and your family if you shift out of those negative gears and learn how to see your world through rose colored glasses.

March is National Optimism Month—the perfect time to inject the power of positive thinking into your role as a parent. Mighty Mommy (a bit of a Pollyanna herself) shares six ways you can bring more optimism into your life.

Even if you aren't an optimistic by nature, you can still begin seeing the positive side of life more often.

The Benefits of Positivity

It may come as no surprise that optimists not only find the good in most situations, they also live more joyful, healthier lives.  The Psychology Today article "4 Reasons Why an Optimistic Outlook Is Good for Your Health" shows that optimists tend to take charge of their physical health and are also careful not to overindulge in habits such as smoking, excessive drinking, and eating a poor diet. Optimism also allows people to tackle challenges head-on rather than pushing them to the back burner.

For example, if an optimist were to receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, they would be more likely to research this health condition and take steps to manage it properly, rather than staring at the pantry filled with cookies and moaning “Why me?”

Finally, positive people tend to have a close-knit circle of friends to lend them support when the going gets rough, which makes rebounding from a difficult situation a bit easier.

If it wasn't for my optimistic outlook, I could not have trudged my way through five years of infertility in my 20s.  I spent...

Keep reading on Quick and Dirty Tips