The Power of Optimism

I created this lesson for my young women (mia maids) and just wanted to share it with you in case it might help. :)

The Power of Optimism

Optimism can change your life!

The word optimism comes from the Latin word “optimus” meaning “best” representing looking for the best in any situation.

Let’s look up the word “optimism” in the topical guide. It says (see cheerfulness; hope). Hope is exactly what optimism emanates. Looking up “hope” in the topical guide we see it says (see also faith; trust). Hope is nurtured by faith, which is not something others can bestow on us. It is something we must find and practice for ourselves.

Definition: Optimism is the tendency to believe, expect or hope that things will turn out well.

How does this relate to the plan of salvation?

What is salvation?

Simply, it means being saved from a bad outcome. In other words, things will work out to make you happy (obviously contingent on obedience).  

What is the plan of salvation also known as?

The plan of happiness.

We were put on Earth to experience joy in addition to being tested. This is not exclusive. We are not here to experience joy OR be tested; it is to experience joy AND be tested.

2 Nephi 2:25 “…and men are that they might have joy.”

So is there a way we can endure our trials AND enjoy life? Of course!

Card Exercise: Each girl is given a card folded in half. On the front write “Perception is Reality”

Flip open the card. On one side, write something in life that you are struggling with. It can be anything that is giving you trouble right now. Think of this struggle throughout the rest of the lesson and write down how you are going to perceive this situation differently to help you overcome this challenge.

So HOW do we experience joy through our trials?

1 simple concept can do this. (Note I said “simple” not “easy”.)

We need to change our thinking. Period.

Reality is based on how we perceive life. So if we can change how we perceive life, we can change our reality. Perception is reality.

3 Habits to Change Your Thinking 

(or as I like to call them: The 3 Habits of Highly Effective Optimists) :)

1- Think from the Eternal Perspective

2- Look for the Positive

3- Be Grateful

This WILL take practice and does not mean we will or should NEVER have a bad day. Mourning and sorrow is part of our earthly experience used for our benefit and is good. Optimism can make you happy the rest of the 95% of your life (results will vary).

First, Think from the Eternal Perspective

What do I mean by that?

I often think to myself when I am having a hard time with something “Does this matter in the Eternal Perspective of things?” or even, “Will this matter in 10 years? 6 months?” This can help you make decisions as well as think yourself through hard times. Do you do this? Can you think of a time in the past when this would have been useful?

Next, Look for the Positive

We have all heard the old adage “When one door closes, another door opens.” 

Who said this?

Here is a scriptural reference.

1 Nephi 3:7 “…for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

Nephi said it… in slightly different wording.

If God closes a door, or allows a door to be closed, he will always open another door that will lead you to happiness. The hard part is learning to see it.

How can we learn to see this invisible path that is lying before us?

Don’t look back. Don’t dwell on what was. Looking back won’t let you see the paths that lie in front of you. Look to the future for hope. The future is only as bright as your faith. Let’s move forward. Everything will work out because of Christ. Live for the future because you can make of it whatever you want.

Changing your future takes new habits of perception. New habits take practice and awareness. Make an effort. Take a step back from the situation and realize all things are possible and look for the positive.

Seem daunting? Well we’re not alone. Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

All he asks of us is for us to ask him for help. Ask and ye shall receive.

Think of the way you talk to yourself. Do you take responsibility for your own happiness or do you rely on people and situations around you to make you happy?

Which can you control?

D&C 123:17 “…let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”

One of my favorite sayings is “Do your best and let God do the rest.”

Here are some characteristics of optimistic people:

1- They think about, reflect on and emphasize the good things in life.

2- They are grateful for all their blessings.

3- They don’t complain when something bad happens.

4- They feel that nothing can hold them back from achieving success and reaching their goals

5- They believe in abundance, fullness, and richness in life

6- They are confident that the world offers plenty of opportunity for everyone to succeed.

(These points [italics added] from Leanne Beattie, Optimism and the Power of Positive Thinking; Original article found at http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=835)

You can change your thinking with practice. Take that step back.

Third, Be Grateful

#2 on our list of characteristics was having gratitude. Optimists are grateful for the good things in life as well as for their trials. Why in the world would anyone be grateful for adversity?   !

Because they have used it to help them grow and progress, which is why we came to Earth in the first place, to progress. As children of God, we rejoice in progress.

I am grateful for each of my trials because I am a better person after every single event. I grow. I learn and I become happier as I am able to handle the stresses and sorrows of life from a more eternal perspective. Mastery over self can be achieved, not in perfectness yet, but enough to make us happy here on earth. When life hands you lemons…. all you need to do is add a little sweetness to create something great.

Return to the Card Exercise:

How can we overcome the struggle that we wrote down on our card? Discuss. Here are some ideas

1-  Consider if this will matter 3 months from now...10 years…. Eternally?

2- Try to see things from their point of view. Or the Lord’s point of view.

3- Does this person need help themselves? How can I help them?

4- Do I need to humble myself?

So once we develop habits of optimism, how do we keep it?

Moroni 8:26 “...Because of the meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.”

We must be diligent in our prayers and commandments to keep the Holy Ghost with us, nurturing our optimism, and we will be able to endure to the end. We must keep in constant communication with the One that brings us happiness. If you do not nurture your optimism (this also applies to your testimony, hope and faith) it will become easy for it to slip away without you even knowing.

WHY be optimistic?

1-We ALL have 1 thing in common. We may not all have the same ideas but we all want to be happy. Optimism allows you to be happy most of the time, even throughout life’s trials.

2- Optimists live longer.

3- Optimists are healthier.

4- Optimists handle stress better.

5- Optimists have brighter futures.

6- Optimism is contagious. You may have no idea how your optimism can impact or even change the lives of others.

7- Optimists can gain eternal life. 2 Nephi 31:20 “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

This quote from our beloved prophet, Gordon B Hinckley, perfectly describes what I am trying to put into words.

"In my 90 plus years, I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and good women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out! Truly, things always work out! Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out."

(Gordon B Hinckley (1910-2008) Way to be! p84)

His will be done in all things. We can still be happy.

Perception is reality.

If you can change how you perceive things then you can change your reality and your life.