An Opportunity for Optimism

The act of becoming an optimist is not the fact that you have a positive brain, but that you rewire your brain to see a wider, stronger perspective. Optimism is learning to change problems into being viewed as opportunities. Sometimes it can be the same problem with a different perspective. You might have the same issue in your work, your marriage, or your personal life. But when you view that issue as an opportunity to invest in transforming your life for the better, you are not only more optimistic, you grow to see the world more fully.

I remember in camp counseling we taught our kids that we don’t have rules, we have GET TOs. This was to help reframe the rules into being something that we gladly adhere to, not forced to as if obedience is valued above all else. And I think there’s something there for everyone, because in phrases like “get to” we display our true intentions. There’s plenty of more examples, but the key is not whether you say the right words, but whether your heart is in the right place. Are you seeing opportunity or problems? Are you seeing investments or time-wasters? Are you seeing transformations or transactions?

It all lies in the perspective you hold in your mind that lights the path to everything else. No matter where you are in life, a realistic yet powerful sense of optimism can help guide you to see the best and be at your best. Be both grateful and grandiose in your thinking, and you’ll be surprised where you end up.