How to Be a Realistic Optimist in Three Steps

Happy people are productive people.

We get s#!t done.

There…I’ve said it.

As an eternal optimist, I have had my fair share of people tell me over the years that I am not being “realistic” or that I am not taking seriously what could “go wrong;” that I am being a “Pollyanna.”

You know what? They are right, and that is exactly why I am successful.

I am continually amazed at the amount of negative thinking, negative self-talk, and problem making (even when none exists) that our society has gotten comfortable with. What is even more mind-boggling is that those people who are quick to tell others they are being unrealistic (simply because they are choosing to see the possibilities and not just the challenges of a situation) are the biggest roadblocks in their own lives…and they have no clue that they are the reason they are usually miserable and complaining (they prefer to blame that on others).

In any conversation, the question that will instantly determine whether you are mired in pessimism or engaged in optimism is, “So, what are you going to do about it?” A pessimist will rarely take action, opting to just continue complaining instead. An optimistic approach will often lead to a discussion of what action steps can be started.