365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

Day 44: On Optimis m

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done

without hope.

—Helen Keller

 

43

A  positive  attitude  is  essential  if  you  want  to  build  self-discipline.

What’s  the  point  of  denying  yourself  instant  gratification  if  you  don’t

believe that you’ll get a greater compensation for it in the future?

If you suffer from pessimism, realize that along with improving your

self-control, you’ll need to improve your ability to see the world in brighter

colors.  Three  easy  steps  you  can  take  today  to  become  more  optimistic

include:

1. Express gratitude for what you already have. If you can’t be happy

with  what  you  have  today,  you  won’t  be  happy  with  what  you  have

tomorrow.

2. Reframe negative events into opportunities and lessons. An event is

bad for you only if you decide it is. Think of it as a lesson or an opportunity

to change your life, in order to give it a positive meaning.

3.  Surround  yourself  with  positive  input.  If  you  only  read  fear-

mongering  news  and  hang  out  with  pessimistic  grumblers,  you’ll  have  a

hard time exhibiting optimism.

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