“Becoming familiar with optimism, reflecting on it, and making it a priority to become more optimistic are powerful life tools. Seeing optimism as a possibility, instead of dismissing it as naiveté’, gives you more options. It allows you to know that very often you have a clear choice about how to respond or think about something in your life. It’s an attitude or outlook that nudges your perception one way or the other. choosing optimism over pessimism can sometimes make the difference between success and failure, winning and losing, being neutral and getting depressed, moving forward or giving up.”
- What about the Big Stuff
I remember well sitting in a church service listening to one of our ministers talk about Optimism. He explained that in our world today, authority seems to be give more frequently to those who are negative, pessimistic, or serious and that those who are optimistic are seen as naive….
It’s is frequently true. He had us think about those who had authority around us….and, I confess that several, in fact, most of those I thought of, I would have also included as negative. While, those who were optimistic, were loved and cared about, but were not considered authorities.
He challenged us to “think differently”…..and, I have tried to do that in my life.
I earnestly believe that if you are with someone long enough, their good will eventually come out. This is one of my favorite quotes…and life truths. I do believe this.
And, the more I believe this, the more I seek those eternal optimists to keep myself and my children blanketed with optimism.
I have seen negativity destroy things…I have seen optimism build things.
It is an amazing difference.
I have a friend, Monica, who is a die-hard optimist…..and, I confess that at times, her optimism grated on my nerves (during my non-optimistic days)….:) Sorry Monica…don’t think you knew that. But, I can tell you that when my daughter was (and is) in need of a good dose, it is frequently Monica who gets the call, text or email to reach out to Madison. There are others…some who are quietly optimistic, giving glimmers of their positivity in their actions, there are some who are boisterous in their optimism and I am amazed at what they accomplish even in the face of die hard negative-ators.
God bless the optimistic. Quiet or boisterous…they change lives in a positive way.
I think Jesus was an optimist. I know he believed in obedience and that is why he followed the path to the cross. But, just as surely as he believed in obedience, I have faith that he was optimistic in the value of his brothers and sisters here on earth. He believed we were worth the sacrifice…he believed we had hearts worth saving….
And to me, what greater sign can there be of our optimism?
To save our souls as in Jesus’ case?
To save our hearts, our feelings, our self confidence?
To see the good in us when all we see is bad?
To put faith in another when they do not have faith alone?
My husband tells me frequently…and, in fact, writes frequently to me that he will always
“stand in front of, stand beside, and stand behind me”…..
Not in naïve belief that all I think and say and do is perfectly correct or right, but in love and belief that I am doing my best to be my best in search of HIS best all the days of my life.
THAT is powerful…to be loved unconditionally…accepted unconditionally and stood by unconditionally.
In optimistic faith
I appreciate that minister pointing out the fact that being optimistic (in others, in life….in FAITH) is healthy…because the world would have us believe otherwise.
I am grateful for the “Monicas” in my life…for they remind me of the gift of optimism.
I am committed to spending the balance of my days seeking out the optimistic…and weighing heavy the words of those who are not.
I believe that starts at the cross…
Blessings,
Lesa
