How you can shift your outlook on life (and why you should)
No one will dispute that life can get pretty tough. Whether you’ve just heard the starting pistol, or feel you’re nearing the finish line, every phase of life comes with its own set of challenges. The real problems tend to begin, however, when we focus almost exclusively on these challenges and ignore the rewards they yield. This is a mistake – what’s the point of putting up with the bad if you’re going to forget the good?
If this sounds like you, then it could be that you have a pessimistic outlook on life. Please understand that this is in no way a criticism – you’re not doing anything wrong. But, aside from missing out on enjoying some of life’s more wonderful aspects, are more likely to succumb to serious health issues after a heart attack. A study carried out at University College London showed that pessimists were twice as likely as optimists to suffer a second, more serious health condition (heart attack, surgery, angina) in the years following their first heart attack.
There are many ways you can shift your outlook to a more positive view, and different methods will have varying degrees of success depending upon the person. But perhaps one of the most important one is finding the strength to silence your inner critic. According to Dr Lisa Firestone (Ph.D.), our inner critic “subdues us and holds us back.” To be special, it tells us, we have to be worthwhile. This nagging, nasty little voice in our heads fosters pessimistic feelings. It cultivates the belief that nothing we do will be good enough, that it’s better to stay on the sidelines than to try and fail.
The best way to silence your inner critic, Dr Firestone tells us, is to actively ignore and take action against it. She cautions, however, that doing this can cause the voice to become louder (initially), increasing feelings of anxiety you might have. But, she says, persistence is key, because fighting back against the inner critic is the only way to silence it for good.
So how does one fight back against this inner voice? If it tells you you’re uninteresting, tell someone a story or anecdote. If the critic attacks your appearance, do something to make yourself feel pampered and special. When it says you’re stupid, strike up a conversation you know you can actively participate in.
Shifting one’s perspective from a pessimistic outlook to that of an optimist can be difficult. But it’s something you absolutely can do. Day by day, thought by thought – you’ll get there. I have no doubt.
Have you noticed yourself feeling pessimistic? What did you do to combat those thoughts?