OPTIMISTS SEE ONLY THE BRIGHT SIDE

REALITY

Optimists don’t think that life is all great all the time, or force themselves to always be positive. Instead of fighting negative emotions, optimists appreciate those feelings for what they are telegraphing.

“Often, the more uncomfortable emotions are signposts to things we care about,” explains Susan David, author of Emotional Agility.

Optimists examine their negative emotional reactions and think about what steps they can take to change the circumstances that lead to that reaction.

For example, if you’re feeling negative about the current political climate, then drill down to what exactly you’re reacting to and then get involved in a group that supports those issues.