Week Forty-six: : A Daily Dose of Optimism

Central Park is alive with signs of Spring. Daffodils abound, flowering trees are bursting with blossoms, the new green of trees is just beginning to show itself here and there, the grass is an intense green, and the birds are delirious – their songs coming from every direction. Walking through the park each morning inevitably stirs my deep sense of optimism. This time of renewal speaks to the inescapable life energy that underlies everything around us.

I’m also keenly aware of the world situation – the amount of death we encounter in daily news reports, the struggles of people who are without food or other necessities, the anger and hatred expressed seemingly at every turn.

How to reconcile such disparate conditions in the course of a single day? As I pondered this problem, I recalled recent research that has shown how optimism actually affects our health, and is an important aspect of overall well-being. Because of this, it’s important to find a way to nourish optimism, even in the face of devastating life events and seemingly out-of-control circumstances.

For this week’s experiment, allow yourself to find something in each day that either touches you with its beauty, reminds you of the good in people, serves as a little piece of good news from radio, television, the newspaper, or a magazine – anything that nourishes a bit of optimism. This doesn’t mean to overlook or ignore the difficulties that are real in the world. Instead, just as you might give yourself vitamins even when you have a cold, give yourself a shot of optimism no matter what else may be happening around you.

As with all experiments, be sure to allow yourself to invite curiosity to be your constant companion, as you allow yourself to discover unexpected moments of optimism.

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