Optimism
“We can use our mind to create the wonderful reality that we desire by forming a clear image of the result that we desire and then expecting it to come true.” - Tycho Photiou
On the surface, optimism is a nice sounding word that is bandied about in all circles of our life experience. It is usually associated with the cheery, just think positive, hope for the best, and naïve pollyannaish approach to living and being. When our outward circumstances are not to our liking we are told to cheer up, be optimistic, and so on.
While I agree that a positive mindset is a necessary element in attracting the desirable results we want to experience in our personal universe, I feel we often miss the deeper meaning and awesome power of this thing called Optimism.
To fully appreciate the power of optimism, let’s dissect and analyze the word more closely. The dictionary defines Optimism as a state of mind in which one always expects the most favorable outcome. It has its root in the French word optimisme, which means the greatest good. An “ism” is a suffix to denote: action, state, condition
From this perspective then, optimism is actually a state of mind that always actively expects a favorable outcome for the greatest good. An optimist, therefore, is one who chooses to always actively focus all the available spiritual, mental, emotional and physical resources at their disposal in the most effective way to achieve the greatest good. They do not just sit around and hope for the best. In effect, the optimist actively optimizes.
BE COOL Principle #4
Optimism is not Positive Thinking.
It is Active Expanded Awareness.
All of us are creatures of habit. On a daily basis if you practice pessimism and struggle you become very competent at being miserable. Your mind, by its very nature, is a goal seeking mechanism that goes out and creates for you everything you consistently focus on. If your dominant mindset is negative, self-pitying, fearful or miserable you become what I call a skilled pessimist. You have developed the misery habit.
The cure for this misery habit is not massive doses of “positive thinking”. The problem with positive thinking is you have to think about it. While you’re thinking positive, something “bad” happens and suddenly you’re back to the same negative patterns. To break the misery habit, you must begin now to develop the habit of Optimism or what I call Optimized Thinking.
Optimism is more than positive thinking. Much more. It is Active Expanded Awareness.
An optimist lives and has his/her being with a pragmatic acceptance of the present moment and accepts themselves, their current circumstances and other people simply as they are rather than living in rigid resistance of the moment. It requires an attentive and expansive state of awareness to embrace and make constructive use of the present moment.
An optimist knows we can only move toward but not beyond what we can imagine. What we assume, anticipate or believe creates our experiences within our personal universe. Only by continuously expanding our expectations can we expand our experience in every aspect of life.
He/she realizes everything serves their highest good and they make good use of everything. Obstacles become stepping-stones and problems become opportunities. No matter what their circumstances, they know they have the power to choose the direction of their life.
In this state of active expanded awareness, the optimist does not ignore the Law of Polarity by focusing only on the positive side of the equation. By viewing life in terms of energy, the true optimist understands that our higher-self, united with our dominant beliefs, thoughts and emotions creates results in the field of possibility but, they also know, it is only by the process of taking effective action that we solidify our dreams and aspirations into physical reality. In an energy connection relationship there is always a positive, creative side and a negative, receiving side of everything in existence. This is simply how the world works.
Everything has polarity. Without the law of polarity, light, gravity and electricity would not exist. This law makes possible the choices between good and evil, right and wrong, generosity and greed, love and fear, truth and lies. The law of cause and effect is closely related to polarity and holds us true to the choices and actions we make by returning to us what we have measured out. An optimist understands the deep and integral workings behind the concepts of “Whatsoever a man sows, so shall he reap.” and “Do unto others, as you would have them to you.”
A true optimist does not walk through life wearing rose-colored glasses, simply hoping for the best, daydreaming, etc. They actively refuse to be victims of circumstances choosing rather, to be masters of their environment. They do not deny the existence of failure but understand success and failure are two sides of the same coin. It’s a matter of choosing which side to focus their energy on.
They continually refine their levels of thought and energize and enlarge their vision with expanding possibilities. They project their ideal vision through the portal of creative, positive emotion and manifest it within their own physiology with complete faith that their ideal is being made real in their personal universe.
In their creative imagination they step boldly into their magnificent vision and go about their business of work and play with an attitude of certainty their vision is being accomplished. They make no effort to guide the creative process of manifestation, remaining open to all possibilities for its achievement. There is no concern about how their vision will manifest, they simply trust.
In effect, they internalize their vision within their mind and body to the point that it becomes an integral part of who they are. As a result, they magnetize themselves with such force that all things instantly begin moving toward them to bring their vision into physical reality. As things move toward them they take effective action to receive their vision without doubt or hesitation.
When one harnesses the power of optimism it radiates a unique, compelling power from the center of their being with a vibrating force felt by everyone and everything in their universe. This power within them is constantly in motion and active regardless of whether they are engaged in some physical activity or in repose.
Those around them often mistake their energetic charisma for “positive thinking” True, there is a positive quality to their presence that radiates to everyone around. But, what they possess is not positive thinking per se, but in actuality positive knowing. This knowing is not something they have to think about. It is faith born from a place deep within themselves – a belief in their own uniqueness and certainty of their right and ability to give it expression in the universe.
People and companies who exhibit this quality project their internal vision into the universe with such force the reciprocal results often surprise themselves. Their belief in themselves and their internal vision is strong, yet simple in many respects. Simplicity is the key. The world resonates with and is drawn to people and organizations who can communicate in optimistic, yet simple to understand ways. Which brings to our next component in developing the BE COOL mindset – Originality