5 Ways to Feel Super-Optimistic
By Michael Mercer, Ph.D.
Optimism is the hidden key to your personal
and business success. Optimists possess a clear vision of an exciting life,
confidently work on goals to achieve their vision, and take
self-responsibility. In contrast, pessimists have no clear vision of a
fantastic life, and they love to complain, blame, and moan. How can you
become more optimistic?
I will divulge five little-known “secrets” to help you immediately feel
upbeat, confident, and optimistic.
Research: Why Optimism Is Good for You
Tons of research prove that optimists do vastly better than pessimists in
their:
1. Health
2. Wealth
3. Career success
Health.
A growing body of “psychoneuroimmunology” medical research links how a
person’s emotions affect his or her health. Some intriguing findings:
Optimistic people are less likely to get sick than pessimistic or depressed
people. This includes illnesses ranging from common colds to cancer.
Optimistic people also get well faster than pessimists.
Wealth.
A fascinating study found that self-made millionaires worry much less than
people who earn as much money but have not achieved millionaire status. What
is the connection between being optimistic and making yourself into a
millionaire? Optimists are much more likely than pessimists to make a goal
of achieving millionaire status. They also keep plugging away at being
frugal, investing wisely and working hard to turn financial dreams into
reality. In contrast, pessimists are less likely to set net-worth goals or
consistently take actions to become millionaires.
Career Success.
Many companies use my firm’s Abilities & Behavior Forecaster™ pre-employment
tests when choosing applicants. To start, a company has high-achievers take
the test. Also, underachievers may take the test. Then, we identify how the
high-achievers score, so the company can prefer hiring applicants who score
like its profitable, productive employees. Intriguing finding: One of the
Forecaster™ test’s 18 scales is Optimism. Typically, high-achievers
typically score high on the Optimism test scale, while underachievers score
moderate or low on Optimism. This repeated finding verifies that optimists
achieve greater career success than pessimists.
So, how can you boost your optimism to achieve greater health, wealth, and
career success? Here are five immediately useful techniques. Each takes
only one minute to do, so you can start fast and get results today.
1st Technique: Straight Posture and Big Steps
Optimistic people use straight posture, walk fast, and take big steps.
Pessimistic people slouch, walk slowly, and use small steps. Imagine seeing
someone walking with his or her head held high, shoulders back, walking
fairly fast with big steps. That person exudes confidence. In contrast, a
person whose head and shoulders slouch and walks with slow, small steps
reeks a gloomy mood.
Why is a straight posture crucial? Because before you can straighten out
your head, you first need to straighten up your body!
2nd Technique: Cheerful Voice
A lightning quick way to feel upbeat is to use a cheerful voice. Think of a
time when you felt annoyed. Then, your phone rang. You answered it, and your
caller was someone you wanted to impress. I bet you spoke in a cheerful
voice so you would impress your caller. Result: You immediately started
feeling your mood lift.
Why is a cheerful voice an incredibly powerful optimism tool? Psychological
research proved that a person emotionally feels the emotion he or she is
acting at the moment. So, if you act cheerful, you feel cheerful. And a
cheerful voice is the fastest way to act optimistic.
3rd Technique: Use Upbeat Words
You can use types of words: upsetting and upbeat. Pessimists relish using
upsetting words, while optimists excel at using upbeat words. Examples:
Upsetting Words, Upbeat Words
Problem, Opportunity
Tired, Recharging
Depressed, Bumming
For example, a pessimist says, “I have a problem.” In contrast, an optimist
would say, “I have an opportunity to do better next time!”
4th Technique: Use Upbeat Attitudes
I find the chief way to become an optimist simply is to focus on solutions
– and not focus on problems. Every time a difficulty pops up, immediately
create solutions and put them into action. Examples:
Upsetting Attitudes, Upbeat Attitudes
Focus on problems, Focus on solutions
Dwelling on weaknesses, Dwelling on strengths
Thinking about financial woes, Thinking about achieving prosperity
Why is a solution-focus ultra-important? Because you can only have one
thought in your head at a time. So, if you focus on solutions, you cannot
wallow in problems, complaining, blaming, or moaning.
5th Technique: Be a Magnificent Role Model
Remember a time you were a role model for someone. As you helped that
person, you also helped yourself. As the proverb goes: “What goes around,
comes around.” If you are a delightfully optimistic role model for mployees,
co-workers, family and friends, then you simultaneously make
yourself optimistic.
How do you do this? Make sure people see you using straight posture, taking
big steps, speaking in a cheerful voice, using upbeat words and focusing on
solutions.
Anyone can become an optimist. When people use these five techniques, they
invariably tell me they feel heavy burdens lift off their shoulders. They
feel positive, upbeat, and confident. You only need a few minutes to put
these tips into action. They can be your key to enhanced health, wealth, and
career success.
About the Author
Michael Mercer, Ph.D., is a consultant, speaker, and founder of The Mercer
Group, Inc. in Barrington, Illinois. He delivers speeches and seminars at
conferences and companies. Dr. Mercer’s Forecaster™ pre-employment tests
are used by companies across North America. He co-authored “Spontaneous
Optimism®: Proven Strategies for Health, Prosperity & Happiness” and also
“Hire the Best -- & Avoid the Rest™”. You can get a FREE subscription to
his e-Newsletter at http://www.DrMercer.com or call him at (847) 382-0690..
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