Life with Chronic Disease: Practice Optimism

Given the response to last weeks post, Life with Chronic Disease A dose of optimism  I thought it might be helpful to provide ways to practice optimism each day. After all, the mind and thinking takes it shape from whatever it rests upon. If we continually ruminate on fear, anger, self criticism and helplessness it’s wears us down ultimately causing bad moods and less resiliency and healing. Therefore the more ways to increase optimistic thought the better you’ll feel,

• Commit an act of kindness (check out 103 Random Acts of Kindness for lots of great ideas )

• Take care of your corner of the world. Making small positive changes-even as simple as helping to clean a neighborhood park or watering plants while your neighbor is away, adds up.

• Spend time with a person(s) who has a positive outlook

• Love-give, receive and invest

• Smile at someone-It will make you and them feel better

• Work on things you can control

• Count the positives in your life

• Be realistic-For every down there will be an up.

• Recognize that you are not alone and every one has issues and problems yet they continue to move on. The human spirit is an amazing thing.

• Practice mindfulness by purposely drawing your attention on the present moment and accepting it without judgment. Be mindful of your choice of words and what they convey.

• Let go of the past, the “what if’s” and the mental chatter which is negative 

• Remind yourself that what you most fear isn’t happening at this moment; if it does happen you can handle it; and recognize you are causing yourself to suffer.

• Plan an activity that you can look forward to.

• Think about a pleasant memory

• Stay off social media

• Limit news coverage

• Listen to music.

• Sing out loud

• Dance

• Exercise

• Talk a walk in nature

• Work hard, recognizing that failure is okay

• Write a letter (e-mail, text) of gratitude

• Think before you react.

• Laugh.  Make someone else laugh.

• Find opportunity in a challenging situation

• Accept things you cannot change

• Stop doing something that’s making you miserable

• Treat yourself to a spa day.

• Have lunch with a friend

• Enjoy a sunset or sunrise

• If you have a special talent such as musician, writer, poet, artist etc. share it with someone.

• Ease up on yourself. Forgive yourself for past errors (real or imagined) and move on.

• Create an optimism reminder

Watch this video. It’s funny but packs a powerful message-when you find yourself complaining follow it with “And I’m really very blessed.”