“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” -- Dale Carnegie
We encounter numerous obstacles in life, whether they are big or small. In these times, optimism is one of the most important sources of rejuvenating energy that can bring those in afflictions to stand right back up and sprint again. That being said, living optimistically is not as easy as it sounds if you haven’t been practicing it on a regular basis. How do we incorporate positivity? Here today, we will share about a few ways to boost optimism in our everyday routines.
We encounter numerous obstacles in life, whether they are big or small. In these times, optimism is one of the most important sources of rejuvenating energy that can bring those in afflictions to stand right back up and sprint again. That being said, living optimistically is not as easy as it sounds if you haven’t been practicing it on a regular basis. How do we incorporate positivity? Here today, we will share about a few ways to boost optimism in our everyday routines.
Third-Person Perspective
When our plans deviate from the original setup or unimagined challenges arise, our first instinct is to become overwhelmed, and naturally, we become heavily absorbed into the matter. The methods people use to cope with stress or handle new problems vary vastly, however one practice that’ll benefit everyone in approaching the problem is developing a clear mind. In order to do this, I recommend setting yourself apart from the situation for at least a few minutes to objectively understand the situation. Often, we’re prone to becoming so emotionally and mentally invested in the conflicts that we can lose sight of simple solutions. By setting yourself as a third-person to observe the scenario and take note of the details without bias, you may find clarity on how to deal with the challenge.
However, this doesn’t mean to entirely shut off your emotions and approach every problem without considering your own feelings, position, and experiences in mind. Nonetheless, incorporating this third-person reflection period for even a couple minutes can help you think rationally in times that usually leave many in frantic headspaces.
Visualize the Obstacle and Solution
Our minds are one of the busiest, most complex places we know. With over 6,200 thoughts sparking and zooming through our brain per day, it isn’t the most reliable for containing dense information and retaining for a long time in times of distress. As a result, writing or drawing out your thoughts and feelings can be a necessity in obstacles. Not only do we stop there, but we continue by mapping out possible solutions to the problem. With multiple solutions brainstormed and recorded on a tangible piece of paper or digital document, you can find a new sense of peace in knowing that you have a readily available list of solutions.
Furthermore, I noticed that writing out our thoughts can also amplify one’s ability to understand oneself. As mentioned in our article, Notes to Self, physically releasing your emotions into a visual source of reference can be cathartic and useful for future reflections on how we’ve grown through the very challenges we’ve faced.
Seek the Hidden Rewards
No one enjoys obstacles (at least I don’t); however, I’ve learned over multiple years of overcoming diverse challenges that ultimately there is a reward that comes out from the experience. It may be an award that we never asked for, an award that we never strove for. Even so, the saying that “challenges make us stronger” wasn’t made on a whim. The rewards may be related to improved skill sets with people such as learning to use clear communication, respect boundaries, empathize with others’ experiences, or be open to others’ opinions. Additionally, it may be more personal: learning to accept oneself for one’s unique talents, understanding how to take a break, finding where one’s source of healing comes from, and many more. Regardless of what the reward is, I promise you there will be at least one hidden gem of a reward lying in the midst of the challenge. Therefore, I highly recommend to take a moment, breathe, and list out all the rewards that can come out from overcoming this challenge.
Whatever challenge you may be going through today, know that you are capable -- in fact more capable than you ever imagined. So go conquer your dreams and overcome the challenges that come your way. Before you know it, you’ll realize that while this event may have been a struggle at the time, it’ll serve as a training ground and testimony for propelling forward towards a stronger and wiser you.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on StarryScholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆
When our plans deviate from the original setup or unimagined challenges arise, our first instinct is to become overwhelmed, and naturally, we become heavily absorbed into the matter. The methods people use to cope with stress or handle new problems vary vastly, however one practice that’ll benefit everyone in approaching the problem is developing a clear mind. In order to do this, I recommend setting yourself apart from the situation for at least a few minutes to objectively understand the situation. Often, we’re prone to becoming so emotionally and mentally invested in the conflicts that we can lose sight of simple solutions. By setting yourself as a third-person to observe the scenario and take note of the details without bias, you may find clarity on how to deal with the challenge.
However, this doesn’t mean to entirely shut off your emotions and approach every problem without considering your own feelings, position, and experiences in mind. Nonetheless, incorporating this third-person reflection period for even a couple minutes can help you think rationally in times that usually leave many in frantic headspaces.
Visualize the Obstacle and Solution
Our minds are one of the busiest, most complex places we know. With over 6,200 thoughts sparking and zooming through our brain per day, it isn’t the most reliable for containing dense information and retaining for a long time in times of distress. As a result, writing or drawing out your thoughts and feelings can be a necessity in obstacles. Not only do we stop there, but we continue by mapping out possible solutions to the problem. With multiple solutions brainstormed and recorded on a tangible piece of paper or digital document, you can find a new sense of peace in knowing that you have a readily available list of solutions.
Furthermore, I noticed that writing out our thoughts can also amplify one’s ability to understand oneself. As mentioned in our article, Notes to Self, physically releasing your emotions into a visual source of reference can be cathartic and useful for future reflections on how we’ve grown through the very challenges we’ve faced.
Seek the Hidden Rewards
No one enjoys obstacles (at least I don’t); however, I’ve learned over multiple years of overcoming diverse challenges that ultimately there is a reward that comes out from the experience. It may be an award that we never asked for, an award that we never strove for. Even so, the saying that “challenges make us stronger” wasn’t made on a whim. The rewards may be related to improved skill sets with people such as learning to use clear communication, respect boundaries, empathize with others’ experiences, or be open to others’ opinions. Additionally, it may be more personal: learning to accept oneself for one’s unique talents, understanding how to take a break, finding where one’s source of healing comes from, and many more. Regardless of what the reward is, I promise you there will be at least one hidden gem of a reward lying in the midst of the challenge. Therefore, I highly recommend to take a moment, breathe, and list out all the rewards that can come out from overcoming this challenge.
Whatever challenge you may be going through today, know that you are capable -- in fact more capable than you ever imagined. So go conquer your dreams and overcome the challenges that come your way. Before you know it, you’ll realize that while this event may have been a struggle at the time, it’ll serve as a training ground and testimony for propelling forward towards a stronger and wiser you.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on StarryScholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆