Cultivating Optimism

Many people don’t realize that the way the see the world has a heavy impact on their stress level, but it’s true: pessimism and negative self-talk can cause you significant amounts of stress. Whether you see situations as a threat or a challenge, something you can benefit from or something that will hurt you, stressful or exciting, is all in your point of view. Fortunately, your point of view can be changed, with practice. How much happier, more productive, and less stressed could you be if you omitted some self-defeating thought patterns? The following resources can help you discover whether or not you can benefit from a new perspective, and help you change your point of view if you choose to.

• Quiz: Are You An Optimist or a Pessimist?

• Stress and Self Sabotage

• The Benefits of Optimism

• How to Develop Positive Self Talk