How to Feel Optimistic

Be choosey of whom you spend time with. Their thoughts, energy, and actions affect you. 

I thought it mattered more that I had friends and family and that it was normal to not feel good around everyone. Some people just rubbed me the wrong way and that was how it was. I didn’t think I had a choice. 

When I think back to my constant state of negativity and anxiety, I see that I was surrounded by pessimistic people. 

But at the time I didn't consider or even realize how they were affecting me because it just felt normal.

I discovered that not everyone is pessimistic or negative and that was eye-opening. Like life changing, mind-altering, eye-opening. 

I went from constantly saying no, that everything was impossible or too difficult to being optimistic and filled with hope. 

That change didn’t happen overnight, it took time, it took patience. At the heart of that change was choosing who influenced me, who was in my corner. 

Before I found people in real life to be a part of my cheering section I turned to my one constant, books. 

I turned to the pages of Mel Robbins, Brene Brown, Gabrielle Berstein, Jen Sincero, Marie Forleo, and Amanda Palmer to give me a new perspective, to show me that it was possible to show up in the world as my whole self (whatever that meant) and that I didn’t need to hide from everything that might-possibly go wrong. That it was ok to make mistakes, that it was good even to make mistakes because those were the biggest opportunities for growth. 

Most of all I turned to my journal, my words on the page and I found my voice there. 

Sure it was confusing and rambling most of the time, and it was mine and it understood me. 

The more I understood myself the easier it was to find people in real life that got me, that craved deep connection. 

People I could trust to be a part of my cheering section, cheering me towards growth and offering me a hand when I stubbled. 

Notice the people around you, the people you spend the most time with, do they cheer for you or do they drag you into drama? 

I don’t ask this as a judgment, I ask out of curiosity. The more curious you can be, the more information and wisdom flows to you. 

What do you notice about the people in your life? 

​ If you’re wanting more people in your life that cheer for you/get you/don’t judge the real you, then come check out my weekly journaling group, CommuniTea. We meet Fridays at 4pm PDT (online) and your first month is free.