Before inventing the light bulb, Thomas Alva Edison, made no less than 1,000 unsuccessful attempts. But, can you imagine failing 1,000 times? How would you react to it?
After inventing the bulb, Edison said, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
Such powerful was the spirit of optimism and perseverance in him.
Amidst everyday life, are you the one who strongly believes that every cloud has a silver lining, or do you look for pitfalls in every miracle?
It is easy to be happy and cheerful when life treats you well. But how do you react when bad things come your way? These are the times when being an optimist can help you sail through the crisis easily.
It is easier to persevere with hope in your heart when you can see the brighter side of things, when you are more positive. This helps you work towards seemingly impossible goals. That is the power of optimism.
Optimism isn’t losing sight of what is real. But it gives you the drive to face challenges, especially when you are down. You will be able to explore the realm of the extraordinary, by learning how to be optimistic. Just like Edison.
Let’s look at some unique ways of staying upbeat through the vagaries of life with meditation.
Make your mind your best friend
“Nothing in the world can bother you as much as your own mind. Others seem to be bothering you, but it is not others; it is your own mind!” - Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Have you ever noticed what happens when you have a fight with your family or friends? Hurtful words do the rounds. You hurl words at them, they give it back to you and then the words you label yourself with.
Though hard to digest, but the words that you say to yourself are usually the unkindest cut of all. No one can hurt you as much as you can hurt yourself. Once you realize that your mind is directly responsible for these words, you can easily resolve it.
Just be friend your mind. It can be your best friend, counsel and support, not only in good, but most importantly, in bad times.
How do you do that? How do you control and mentor your mind so that it supports you like a best friend? This is possible with knowledge and awareness. Meditation makes you aware. You let go of petty thoughts and doubts. Your mind naturally settles in equilibrium, giving you control over it. You can then steer it to optimistic thoughts and move ahead.
See the light at the end of the tunnel
“When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” - Alexander Graham Bell
Did you lose your job? Did your friends hurt you? Did you fail an exam? It is easy to get lost in the darkness surrounding you at these times. But this is when you most need to envision the light at the end of the tunnel, especially when you cannot see it. The hope that you will find the light will help you spot opportunity in adversity.
Even if all the doors and windows are firmly shut, you have a way out – or rather, a way in. When you delve deep within, you will find all the answers you ever needed. Practice 20 minutes of meditation regularly to gain insight into yourself. Meditation can silence the incessant internal chatter, making it easier to think productively and positively. It also gives you the peace, strength and endurance to dig yourself out of your tunnel.
So, give up the negativity and be optimistic!
Believe in yourself
Faith moves mountains. But when you face the mountain, your heart inevitably sinks, right? It is when everything goes haywire that you need faith the most. Unfortunately, this is when it is difficult to have faith and this is the time when optimism will keep you afloat. When you are hopeful, then there is a chance of believing in yourself again, sooner or later.
But how can you be optimistic under any unfortunate circumstance? You can only strive to achieve anything when you feel energetic and you will feel energetic only when you have rested adequately.
Meditation gives you the much-needed rest to start afresh. Meditation will make you feel recharged and raring to go. You will be full of optimism and positivity. Just 20 minutes of meditation is as good as eight hours of sleep. So, when you feel fatigued mentally or physically, slip into meditation.
Other tips on how to be optimistic
- Eat healthy and fresh food. Avoid junk food. A disciplined body routine leads to a happier and more hopeful mind.
- Participate in hobbies that make you feel positive, like listening to music or reading a good book. A happy mind is more positive about overcoming obstacles.
- Think of the last time you encountered difficult times and how you overcame them. This will give you confidence and hope in tackling your latest problems.
- Engage in seva (selfless service); it will take you out of your own small, parochial world. Seva makes you feel good about yourself. You may even find answers to your questions while helping others with their problems.
- After seva, spend some time doing Sahaj Meditation. Your meditation tends to be deeper after seva. You gain confidence and feel good about yourself. This paves the way for you to be optimistic come what may.