Faith and Optimism

Have you ever known someone whose outlook on life makes you feel like you should take a page out of their book? A person I know who leaves me with that feeling is Ron, a friend of the family.

We were recently discussing current events, and I brought up the recent decision by OPEC to significantly reduce oil production, and the impact this could have on fuel prices. Ron agreed this could raise what we pay at the pump, but it would also motivate a stronger push toward alternative fuels and electric vehicles. Playing devil’s advocate, I brought up the current state of our country’s electrical grid, my doubts that the grid could handle a huge influx of electric cars, as well as the government’s ability to handle the logistical challenges to improve its power capacity and output.

To my point, Ron replied, “I didn’t say anything about the government handling the problem, I believe in people.” Ron was a child during the second world war and has seen the world change in remarkable ways during his lifetime. “The technological advances that companies like IBM and Apple have brought had nothing to do with the government,” Ron said. “These were people who believed they could make a difference, and through inspiration and innovation brought products to the world and had impacts that will be remembered forever. I believe the same thing will happen with our current issues—smart and industrious people will work hard and ultimately bring solutions to our dependency on oil.”

Only time will tell if this comes to pass, but my takeaway was that Ron simply chooses to look at things through the lens of faith and optimism. His view is that of a problem solver, not a problem seeker; he doesn’t look for reasons why something won’t work, he seeks to find all the reasons why it absolutely will.

This perspective brings multiple benefits for one’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. On the flip side, a pessimistic outlook brings with it an expectation of negativity and failure, and it also raises stress hormones, heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety. No, thank you!

That said, I know life brings significant challenges and struggles that aren’t always made easier by having a positive attitude. However, it stands to reason that how we view ourselves, other people, and the world around us on a day-to-day basis comes down to choice.

So how does one begin to shift to a more positive and optimistic point of view? I think it’s a learning process that involves releasing some long-held beliefs, and likely some rewiring of the brain. For myself, it’s helpful to limit the amount of news I watch, because I never feel uplifted by tuning in, and I also monitor the type of social media I pay attention to.

Additionally, it helps to become more aware of my internal dialogue: am I feeling open and aware of the good stuff in my life, or is my inner critic jumping around, ready to hurl judgments toward myself and others? And here’s a big one—being patient while driving. I’ve found that doing some deep breathing while behind the wheel lowers my heart rate and brings me into a calming state.

Each individual will have unique strategies for looking at life through a lens of optimism, and I really want to learn what ideas you may have. If you’re like Ron and you see the glass half-full, what types of mental shifts and actions have you taken to make that happen?